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): $150,000

For over twelve years, the Office of Rural Health has served the people of the State of Oklahoma through its mission to improve rural health care delivery in Oklahoma and other rural states through research and health care policy development and to better coordinate rural education and utilization of technology.

In 1990, under the authority of congressional legislation that launched the State Offices of Rural Health grant program, the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health (ORH) grant program was established for the national SORH program. Now situated within the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural health, Center for Health Sciences, the ORH program forms the core infrastructure, along with matching funds from the state of Oklahoma, for the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, which combines state, federal, and other funding sources to positively impact rural health.

Major Accomplishments in FY 2005 (October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005):

As a component part of the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health located in the Center for Health Sciences, the Office of Rural Health has greatly expanded both the scope and number of activities to help rural Oklahomans. Listed below is a representative sample.

• Sponsored the 12th Annual Oklahoma Rural Health Conference, held in Oklahoma City, OK, September 2006, in collaboration with the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma.
• Sponsored, organized and managed the Small Rural Hospital Conference in February, 2006, in Oklahoma City. This conference provides an educational and information exchange forum that was attended by representatives from more than 95% of Oklahoma's rural hospitals.
• The ORH is directly involved in the Oklahoma Telemedicine Initiative. The introduction of telemedicine into rural areas is enabling isolated residents to receive primary and specialist care at a fraction of the cost to the providers and patients. The ORH is currently participating in the development and deployment of a traveling telemedicine bus to provide health care in rural and undeserved areas. The mobile clinic is equipped with satellite communication technology and contains exam rooms. The bus will be operated by physicians, medical residents and students from OSU's medical school in Tulsa. The bus will make daily visits to hospitals with 20 rooms or less and occasionally will stay overnight. The mobile clinic will provide general care, specialty care and procedures, and screenings. Officials said the clinic will be used frequently for free immunizations and health care. It also could be used during disaster situations. The telemedicine bus will increase the likelihood that rural patients will utilize specialty care and will provide medical students and residents with exposure to rural communities, according to officials. The $450,000 bus -- which was built by Jackson Center, Airstream and Mobile Medical, and Command Center Vehicles -- is expected to be on the road after a testing period in Tulsa.
• The ORH is also providing funding for computer equipment used in the residency program to be located at St John's Sapulpa. This is equipment that would not have otherwise been provided.
• Participates in placing, evaluating and lecturing to medical students in rural rotations. Each third year medical student is required to spend two thirty day rotations with a rural preceptor. Each forth year medical student is required to spend two thirty day rotations in a rural community hospital.

SORH Contact Information:

Office: Center for Rural Health, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Address: 900 N Portland, Suite BT 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Phone: 405.945.9197
Fax: 405.945.9186
Website: www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/research/orhprc/
Director: Val Schott, MPH
E-mail: val.schott@okstate.edu
Director, Grants & Resource Development: Jeff Hackler
E-mail: jeff.hackler@okstate.edu
FLEX Coordinator: Rod Hargrave
E-mail: rod.hargrave@okstate.edu
NOSORH Contact: Corie Kaiser
E-mail: corie.kaiser@okstate.edu

Other Grant Programs

1. 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, support for the hospitals and their communities, and integration of EMS.
Flex Award (FY05): $610,000

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 33
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 70
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 33
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 2
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 75

Major Accomplishments:

• OSU trained doctors could not practice efficient medicine if rural hospitals close. The ORH strengthens the underlying healthcare system in rural areas by performing financial feasibility studies. These studies cover a wide range of issues such as what type of medical services a local community can support, ambulatory usage, and rebuilding/new construction of medical facilities and evaluation of emergency medical services. In the last year the Office of Rural Health has performed 17 financial feasibility studies valued at $10,000 per study for a total value of $170,000.
• The ORH assists in the training and placement of important medical support personnel through collaboration with Oklahoma Department of Career Technology. This collaboration has resulted in the education of over 2000 students in 38 health related fields.
• Quality assurance is delivered by helping rural hospitals revamp their policy and procedures. In the current healthcare climate this is a critical issue and can typically cost any hospital regardless of size a considerable amount of money. The ORH is able to contract these services out at a significant savings and pay for them at no expense to the participating facility. In the last year the Office of Rural Health has performed 7 quality assurance studies valued at $15,000 per occurrence for a total value of $105,000.
• The ORH collaborated with the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) and placed new computers in rural hospitals throughout Oklahoma totaling $66,165.
• Other activities include but are not limited to:
• Conducting and administering the Community Engagement Process
• Providing Rural Hospital Financial Viability studies
• Providing Quality Assurance studies
• Hosting the Annual Small Hospital Conference
• Placement of telemedicine assets
• Distance learning placements
• Working toward the replacement of five Rural Hospitals
• Developed, supported and sustained rural health networks that meet the needs of CAHs, their partners and their communities.
• Sustained CAHs by providing opportunities to improve quality of care/performance improvement through targeted activities based on identified needs.

2. 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. The Center helped eligible rural hospitals to participate in SHIP. Eligible hospitals submit an application to the Center; the Center 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 between approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY 05): $553,908

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 68
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 5
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 57
• Hospitals using grant funds for PPS related improvement: 35
• Hospital using funds for HIPAA related improvement: 54

Major Accomplishments:

• All SHIP hospitals expended their contract award.
• Many hospitals are using their funding for multiple projects within the grand guidelines.
• All small hospitals now have internet access and computers to report quality issues as a result of a joint project between the Center and the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality.
• The Center supported, organized and managed a small hospital conference for education and information exchange. The conference was attended by over 95% of small rural hospitals.

Total HRSA Funding (FY 05): $728,120