Rural Health Path to Value Rural Health Innovations offers services to help you climb toward population health and improve the health status of your community.
Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) Work with us to set a course toward value-based payment and population health. A thorough assessment of your community's needs is the crucial first step.
Community Health Implementation Planning We can help you to strategically build and carry out a community health implementation plan that addresses the needs identified in your CHNA.
Additional Consulting Services
Network and Partnership Development More is possible when working together. Let us help you build bridges that lead to healthier communities.
Technical Assistance & Services Center (TASC) TASC provides performance improvement resources to CAHs and state Flex Programs on quality, finance, operations, systems of care and population health.
Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) SHIP provides funding to approximately 1,600 participating hospitals in 46 participating SORHs to help small rural hospitals participate in value-based payment and care delivery models.
Network Technical Assistance (TA) RHI provides technical assistance (TA) to over 60 networks in the Development and Allied Health rural health network grant programs.
Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project The Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project supports small rural hospitals nationally by providing on-site technical assistance to assist bridging the gaps between the current health care system and the newly emerging health care delivery and payment system.
Resource Library The Center's Resource Library features webinars, presentations, articles and toolkits developed by trusted industry leaders to guide and support rural health stakeholders.
Developing collaborative and innovative ways of managing the health of communities is an important component in transitioning to value-based care. The Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Recognition certificate was established by the National Rural Health Resource Center and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to recognize the excellent work in CAHs throughout the country. The recognition, nominated by the state Flex Programs, promotes excellence and innovation and honors the achievements and results of CAHs through Flex-supported activities and impact.
Grant Memorial Hospital is recognized for demonstrating an innovative approach to collaboration through telehealth. They have successfully minimized barriers by connecting rural populations to needed health care in order to address clinical issues and patient needs, as well as provide support, resources, and education in behavioral health and cardiology.
UPMC Cole, located in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, is one of three critical access hospitals (CAHs) that received national recognition for demonstrating an innovative approach to post-acute care that supports a patient’s continued recovery from illness or management of a chronic illness or disability.
Harrison County Community Hospital (HCCH), located in Bethany, Missouri, is one of three critical access hospitals (CAHs) that received national recognition for demonstrating an innovative approach to post-acute care that supports a patient’s continued recovery from illness, or management of a chronic illness or disability.
Pinckneyville Community Hospital, located in Pinckneyville, Illinois, is one of just three critical access hospitals that received national recognition for demonstrating an innovative approach to post-acute care that supports a patient’s continued recovery from illness or management of a chronic illness or disability.
Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC), located in Lexington, Nebraska, was one of only four critical access hospitals that received national recognition for demonstrating innovative care coordination initiatives to improve population health.
Lincoln County Medical Center (LCMC), located in Ruidoso, New Mexico, was one of only four critical access hospitals (CAH) that earned national recognition for demonstrating innovative care coordination initiatives to improve population health.
Mason District Hospital (MDH), located in Havana, Illinois, is one of only four critical access hospitals across the United States to receive national recognition for its care coordination program.
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH), located in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is one of only four critical access hospitals that received national recognition for demonstrating innovative care coordination initiatives to improve population health.
Ellenville Regional Hospital is recognized for implementing an innovative project to fight the opioid crisis in collaboration with a federally qualified health care center (FQHC). The Opiate Reduction Medicaid Accelerated Exchange Series Pilot (Max) Project has provided a new model of care in an effort to decrease the administration of opioids in the Emergency Department (ED).
Margaretville Hospital is recognized for an innovative mental health program for students that combines in-person psychotherapy and telepsychiatry in public schools at no cost to the students, their families, or the school district.
Columbia Basin Hospital, Columbia County Health System, Jefferson Healthcare, Newport Hospital and Health Services, Pullman Regional Hospital, and Whitman Hospital and Medical Center are recognized for an innovative, multi-state, rural palliative care initiative that includes telehealth case consultation with an interdisciplinary team.
Fulton County Medical Center (FCMC) is being recognized for the development of an innovative emergency department (ED) mental health distress response.
Union General Hospital was recognized for the development of innovative programs, It's a Girl Thing and Together We Can Be Bully Free, geared toward awareness of adolescent behaviors and how to change them.
Hansford County Hospital District collaborated with Northwest Central Texas EMS Resources, Inc. to create a program that arms registered nurses with the knowledge and training of an emergency medical technician with a class titled RN to Basic.
Avera Holy Family Hospital partnered with four emergency medical service (EMS) programs, the police department and public health in a three-year continuous quality improvement project. This project engaged EMS and hospital systems of care with collaborative prevention initiatives, data collection and evaluation, ongoing protocol development and training.
Good Shepherd Medical Center implemented an immensely successful care coordination program, called Healthy Living Communities, to help senior citizens live healthy lives in the community. The Health Living Communities program staff, including nurses and community health workers (CHWs), masterfully connected community resources with health care teams.
Sakakawea Medical Center (SMC) was recognized for their innovative efforts connected to care coordination. In January 2015, SMC created a new position to facilitate care coordination efforts between the hospital and other care providers in the community.
With assistance from the North Carolina SORH, Vidant Chowan Hospital implemented a ‘No Patient Left Behind’ transitional health program, a free service through which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, post-acute AMI, congestive heart failure and pneumonia are helped to transition back to their home upon discharge.
Gunnison Valley Hospital implemented a process of bedside reporting. Reporting nurses finishing and starting a shift meet with the patient to give report on current treatment plans and to address any questions or concerns. An emphasis is placed on talking with, rather than about the patient.
Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital was recognized for innovation in emergency medical services (EMS). In 2014, health care providers serving residents of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, came together to create the Community Healthcare Integrated Paramedicine Project (CHIPP).
In response to the high levels of mental health needs and the challenge of limited resources, Athol Hospital partnered to develop a collaborative school-based telepsychiatry model focused on bridging care gaps for children and families residing in the Athol Hospital service area.
In conjunction with another hospital, Pender Memorial Hospital successfully implemented the Transitions in Care program. The program provides telehealth for congestive heart failure patients to assist with self-managing cardiac disease, reducing readmissions and encouraging independent living for seniors.
Sanpete Valley Hospital worked with Intermountain Healthcare to create a network that provides appropriate access to behavioral health, working within the community to educate about mental health issues, increase access to care, provide timely access to services and improve follow-up with patients.
McKenzie Health System received recognition for working on key projects such as the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model to develop a deeper relationship with patients and develop skills to improve patient health through evidence-based medicine techniques to manage chronic disorders.
Estes Park Medical Center (EPMC) was recognized for its work in the areas of care coordination, care management, patient access and prevention and wellness projects. EPMC joined a public-private partnership to form a wellness center that provides an array of services to the community.
Illini Community Hospital has implemented a care coordination program that consolidates management of populations into one seamless system, producing efficiencies that drive improved health outcomes and reduce overall health care spending.
Moab Regional Hospital (MRH) was recognized for turning their financial crisis in 2011 to financial success in 2013. A number of factors contributed to the success of MRH’s turnaround, including re-participating in the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program and conducting a CHNA to better address the community’s health needs.
The dramatic turnaround at Pershing General Hospital began with a top-to-bottom facility assessment by hospital administration of unprofitable service lines and a comprehensive review of community health needs.
Blue Mountain Hospital was recognized for implementing many programs to communicate with the community they serve, including a county newsletter and social media engagement. These communication methods are all utilized to maintain open lines of communication with the community.
Decatur County Memorial Hospital reached out to its community in several ways including free influenza vaccines for the community and free comprehensive blood screenings at the county health fair. By partnering, the hospital and Decatur County came together to enhance the overall health of their community.
Mason District Hospital provides integrative care that meets the needs of each patient through the Integrated Health Advocacy Program (IHAP), a chronic disease management program that supports and educates participants and provides whole person care in an effort to improve health and quality of life, while decreasing health care costs.
Ellenville Regional Hospital was recognized for their effort in community engagement with the creation of a seamless process of medication management as patients transition within and across organizations.
Granite County Medical Center spearheaded the effort to establish a mobile dental clinic where the nearest dentist can be up to 70 miles away. GCMC helped with billing, scheduling, marketing, housekeeping, fundraising, IT support, administrative support and maintenance.
Central Valley Medical Center (CVMC) demonstrated excellence in quality initiatives with improvements in patient safety and satisfaction. CVMC was one of the first CAHs in Utah to report quality measures and has continued to lead by example
Tahoe Forest Hospital District was recognized for their quality reporting strategies and demonstrated excellence in quality initiatives with documented outcomes.
Page Hospital participated in the CMS Partnership for Patients initiative through the Premier Hospital Engagement Network (HEN). The hospital maintained Joint Commission accreditation and demonstrated high quality outcomes and operational performance rates relative to peers.
Abbeville Area Medical Center has been a leader in the state of South Carolina for Hospital Compare and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers (HCAHPS).
Boon County Hospital demonstrated excellence in quality initiatives with documented outcomes. BCH actively participated in the Partnership for Patients as well as many other quality initiatives.
Speare Memorial Hospital (SMH) implemented Lean and Six Sigma training methods, which have fostered a hospital-wide performance improvement infrastructure. SMH also established a Transition Care Program to allow care transition nurses to continue to follow their patients' post-hospital care at their homes.
Fairview Hospital was a recipient of the CAH Recognition Certificate for quality improvement and demonstrated quality initiatives.
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,560,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Describe the five components of the Staff Sustainability Cycle
Evaluate your state Flex Program’s hiring and retention policies and practices
Strategize on best practices for office workflow to ensure proper business continuity
Describe the policy and technical barriers facing robust public health data sharing. Recognize recent state and federal efforts to overcome the public health information silos that exist. Identify how Flex Programs can better access critical public health information, particularly in their population health efforts.
Describe telehealth origination sites and common rural alternatives. Relate what a telehealth visit looks like for the patient from an alternative site such as a library. Discuss the positive impact on health equity and patient access. List examples of rural alternative origination sites.
