State Flex Program Evaluation

The goals of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program are to develop State Rural Health Plans, assist rural hospitals with CAH designation, develop and support rural health networks, improve quality of care, and improve EMS in rural communities. Each State Flex Program has the flexibility to reach these goals in the most efficient manner to strengthen the rural health care infrastructure in their state. Therefore it's vital for states to evaluate the progress and impact of their programs to ensure that the goals are being met both for their state and for the Flexibility Program at the federal level.

Tools Resources

Tools

Annual Evaluation for Critical Access Hospitals
This document, developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Center for Rural Health, is a suggested list of the areas to be evaluated in an annual survey for the re-certification of a CAH.

Flex/CAH Program Survey for Hospitals
This evaluation, developed by the Ohio Department of Health, Primary Care and Rural Health office, assesses the CAH's experiences with program communication, network development, and EMS services.

State Flex Program Evaluation Plan
The Minnesota Department of Health Office of Rural Health and Primary Care has developed an evaluation plan for their State Flex Program. Contact TASC for a copy of the evaluation design that highlights the evaluation components, data to be gathered, and methods of investigation.

State Rural Hospital Flex Program Survey for Hospitals
This evaluation form, developed by the Ohio Department of Health, Primary Care and Rural Health office, is used by hospital administrators to evaluate hospital involvement and experience in the CAH conversion process, at a detailed level, emphasizing use of available resources in specific areas.

Resources

Evaluation of the Implementation of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
This document is by the State of Indiana and is available from the TASC library. Contact TASC to borrow a copy of this report.

Evaluation of the Oregon Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
This document from the Oregon Office of Rural Health, is available from the TASC library. Contact TASC to borrow a copy of this report.

Findings from CAH Site Visits
This report, from the Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research, can be found on the website under Projects and Special Reports. It describes a study of 4 hospitals that had been certified as CAHs for at least 4 months at the time of the survey.

Flex Monitoring Team Report No. 15: State Initiatives Funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (October 2007)
Author(s): Flex Monitoring Team
To understand the accomplishments of State Flex Programs, members of the Flex Monitoring Team asked Flex Coordinators to identify and discuss their states' three most successful initiatives in the past two years. Interviews were conducted during February 2007 with Flex Coordinators and State Office of Rural Health staff (SORH) in all 45 states.

Iowa Flex Program Evaluation
This document from the Iowa Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care, is available from the TASC library. Contact TASC to borrow a copy of this report, or to view a summary of the report, click here.

Wisconsin Flex Program: The Impact of Flex Program Allocations for Critical Access Hospitals in the First Five Years
This document from the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health explains the impact of the Flex Program on CAHs during the first 5 years of the program in Wisconsin.