Application Analysis and Selection Process
This page outlines the process of how the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP) reviews and selects hospitals for our technical assistance program.
Step 1: Initial Application Review
RHSP starts by reviewing each online application and scoring it based on key criteria:
Eligibility Check
- Is the hospital currently participating in a similar technical assistance program?
- Is the hospital located in a Delta Region Authority or Appalachian Regional Commission area?
- Is the hospital located in a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) rural-designated area?
Narrative Scoring
Next, RHSP reviews the written portion of the application to evaluate alignment between the hospital’s goals and the program’s purpose. Questions considered include:
- What is the vision for how technical assistance can support the hospital’s path to financial stability?
- Describe the hospital’s financial position and capacity to meet financial obligations.
Step 2: Survey Review
Hospitals meeting eligibility requirements receive a survey to help better understand their finances and operations. The survey score is the combined total from all financial and operational questions included in the survey. Questions considered include:
- How has the hospital’s total operating revenue trended over the last three years?
- How has the hospital’s outpatient volume trended over the last three years?
Step 3: Overall Scoring and Ranking
Each application receives a final score using a standard formula. Hospitals are then ranked based on their scores, from high to low.
Overall Score = (Survey Score + Narrative Score + Financial Distress Index Score)
Step 4: Application Review Calls
Based on overall scores, hospitals are invited to participate in an application review call. The review call will cover leadership commitment, governance and organizational readiness, and the alignment between hospital needs and RHSP services. We ask questions such as:
- What does the hospital believe it would take to increase patient volume?
- Are there any concerns about your hospital team’s capacity to implement action plans that would expand services?
- Is the Board ready, willing, and able to implement strategies to improve performance?
- What are the key reasons for the hospital’s current financial trends?
Step 5: Final Selection
Interview scores are added to the overall score. The highest scoring hospitals are selected for participation. Selected hospitals are contacted to confirm continued interest and availability to participate in RHSP.
Non-selection
Hospitals not selected for participation may still be invited to join a virtual learning collaborative or referred to other FORHP-funded rural hospital support programs.
Important Things to Consider When Applying
To help hospitals receive the full benefit of our support, RHSP considers the readiness of each applicant hospital. Readiness helps us balance all the pieces—your capacity, current workload, and leadership—to understand how ready your hospital is to move forward with program participation. Consider these before applying:
Complete Application
Ensure the online narrative portions are filled out completely and with detail. Doing so allows us to fully understand the hospital’s needs.
Provide Financial Data
Provide all hospital financial data requested in the survey to help us gauge the finanial situation.
Consider Current or Recent Projects
- Large ongoing projects, such as switching electronic health record systems or major facility work, may limit a hospital's ability to fully engage in the program.
- Recently completed or still-in-progress projects may mean some challenges that affect capacity.
- Hospitals with no current projects are often in a better position to fully participate.
- The more details you provide, the better we will be able to understand how we can help.
Other Program Participation
Hospitals that are currently participating in another similar technical assistance program cannot be considered for participation in RHSP until after they complete the technical assistance program. Please view the list of similar programs on our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Key Leadership in Place
Ensure the hospital currently has both a permanent CEO and a CFO/Controller. Having strong executive and financial leadership ensures the hospital can act on the technical assistance provided.