Resources
The Center's searchable Resource Library features articles, reports, webinars, podcasts, toolkits, and other materials developed by trusted industry leaders to guide and support rural health stakeholders.
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476 results found
Planning ought to be purposeful, active, and relevant, with input from key stakeholders such as internal staff, rural provider leaders and staff, and the state rural health and clinic organizations.
Toolkit
Outcomes and Impact Resources
Resources related to Population Health: Outcomes and Impact Resources
Program evaluation relies on data and analysis. Data management is essential to the success of your population's health efforts.
Resources Related to Population Health: Understanding Value-Based Models
Toolkit
Leadership Resources
Leaders play a central role in setting values and directions. Use these resources to help develop leadership and planning for your organization.
Resources related to Population Health: Quality, Operations, and Processes Resources
Evaluation reporting to program stakeholders should be included in Flex Program activities. Reporting supports overall program transparency and development, stakeholder buy-in, engagement, and accountability.
State Flex Programs remain vital because of the web of relationships developed and maintained within communities, providers, networks, states, regions, and nationally. It is imperative that state Flex Programs have the skills, capacity, and commitment to build and sustain partnerships, new and old, to support rural providers and rural stakeholders.
State Flex Programs need to have an in-depth understanding of the policies and regulations governing the Flex Program, as well as a basic understanding of the policy-making process and other policies and regulations affecting rural providers.
State Flex Programs must understand QI principles, resources, and trends to support CAHs in advancing QI.
The Flex Program and CAH designation was established and remains in place because of the financial vulnerability of small rural hospitals. CAH financial and operational improvement is one of the required program areas of the Flex Program.
State Flex Programs can help CAHs transition into value-based systems, population health models, and future opportunities through education, network support, facilitation of new partnerships, and technical assistance.
Blue Mountain Hospital has been recognized by the National Rural Health Resource Center for its use of innovative approaches to improve the organization’s financial stability.
The Critical Access Hospital Financial Sustainability Guide guide is intended for use by state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program personnel, leaders of critical access hospitals (CAHs), and other individuals and/or teams that provide guidance and assistance to these providers in managing their long-term financial stability.
Interactive
Frequently Asked Questions
Access the answers to questions frequently asked about the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP).
The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) has launched the 2025 update to its Population Health Toolkit, which is designed to assist State Offices of Rural Health, state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Programs and individual health care organizations as they seek to better understand, manage and improve population health in their communities and states.
In September 2023, Rural Health Innovations, the for-profit consulting arm of the National Rural Health Resource Center, was contracted by the Episcopal Health Foundation to conduct a review and assessment of the Texas Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model design and rollout. The assessment included an examination of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation initiatives, an analysis of the Texas CHART Model design and related communications with hospitals and partners, an analysis of state hospital finances, and interviews with more than a dozen key informants.
Review the process the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program uses to analyze applications and select hospitals to participate.
The Cancer Screening and Prevention Toolkit features messaging that emphasizes cancer prevention and awareness, highlighting the powerful motivation of living not just for oneself, but for others.
America’s rural health care system faces growing challenges in accessing capital funding for essential infrastructure projects. This paper provides a historical overview of major capital funding programs and analyzes the persistent challenges that prevent rural health care providers from converting available funding into usable capital—undermining sustainability in rural health systems.