State
Offices of Rural Health Grant Program (SORH)
The goal of the State Offices of Rural Health
(SORH) grant program is to assist States in strengthening rural
health care delivery systems by creating a focal point for rural
health within each State. The program provides an institutional
framework that links small rural communities with State and Federal
resources to help develop long term solutions to rural health problems.
The SORH grant program features a single grantee from each of the
50 United States. The program is a Federal-State partnership that
requires a State funding match of $3 for each $1 of Federal funding.
SORH Award Amount (FY06): $ 148,500
Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September
30, 2006):
- Conferences were sponsored by the center reaching over 2,000
attendees interested in rural issues.
- Over $5 million dollars were awarded in grants to rural hospitals,
community health centers and community based organizations
- Supported recruitment and retention programs by awarding 15
new providers with loan repayment funds.
- New health professional scholarships were awarded to 14 medical
students, 120 nursing students and seven allied health students.
- The center recommended 30 international medical graduates be
granted J-1 Visa Waivers
SORH Contact Information:
Office: Center for Rural Health
Address: 535 West Jefferson
Phone: 217-782-1624
Fax: 217-782-2547
Email: julie.casper@illinois.gov
Director: Marc L. Gibbs (acting)
2) Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (Flex)
The Flex Program helps sustain access to high quality health care
services in rural America. It facilitates the development and support
of community-based collaborative rural delivery systems in all grantee
States through conversion of hospitals to critical access status,
development of rural healthcare networks and integration of EMS.
Flex Award (FY06): $618,000
Program Highlights:
- Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 51
- Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 6
- Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 3
- Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 18
- Number of Rural Communities assisted: 51+
Major Accomplishments:
- Support of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
- Sponsored five (5) state-wide educational workshops (EMS, CAH,
RHC, HIT and Facilities)
- Sponsored three (3) Governing Board Member Retreats
- Subcontracted with CAHs and EMS Resource Hospitals and provided
$375,000 in project funds for EMS Education and Training; Information
Technology Project’s; Men’s Health Awareness Education;
Community Development Programs; Recruitment and Retention Initiatives;
and Hospital Board Education
- Implemented a Balanced Scorecard Training Program and workgroup
- Created state-wide CAH data base and report
- Updated State Rural Health Report and Plan for Implementation
of CAH Program
- Provided corporate compliance education and training program
- Updated CAH Quality Improvement Scorecard
- Provided funding to the Illinois Hospital Association to support
a community education initiative for the rural hospitals and an
education series on physician recruitment and patient safety
- Developed a Diabetes Education Training Manual for CAHs
3) Small Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Grant Program
(SHIP)
The goal of SHIP is to assist small (less than 50 beds) rural hospitals
pay for any or all of the following: 1) costs related to implementation
of prospective payment systems, (2) compliance with provisions of
HIPAA and 3) reduction of medical errors and quality improvement.
State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) help eligible rural hospitals
to participate in SHIP. Eligible hospitals submit an application
to their SORH; the SORH prepares and submits a single grant application
to HRSA on behalf of all hospital applicants in the State. There
are approximately 1600 eligible hospitals nationwide and each usually
receives approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY06): $500,304
Program Highlights:
- Hospitals receiving funding: 55
- Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 50 in CAH Network
- Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors:
92%
- Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology:
45%
**Several hospitals split funds towards both projects –
HIPAA, Medical Errors and Information Technology.
Major Accomplishments:
- Hospitals purchased or upgraded video conferencing equipment
– now all CAHs and CAH eligible hospitals have video conferencing
equipment
- ICAHN coordinated group purchase of Interim Cost Reporting
software and Charge Master Review/Coding Audits
- Hospitals were able to participate in a variety of national
patient safety and quality improvement program initiatives
- Upgrade hospital security systems – such as surveillance
cameras, locks, computer firewalls
Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $ 1,266,804
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