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

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

Workforce Development: Dentist Placement Program in partnership with our primary care association placed 6 dentists; Developed, implemented, launched and continue to support ongoing development and evaluation of Rural Health Careers in Wisconsin (www.rhcw.org) website, providing links between rural hospitals and their affiliated clinics with prospective job seekers in all positions; Placed sixteen physicians in underserved communities through the Physician Placement Program.

Developed the Strong Rural Communities Initiative (SRCI): Fully engaged in developing the SRCI concept, applying for funds, and engaging collaborations in rural communities to improve collaborative efforts in 6 rural communities to increase preventive worksite wellness initiatives. This unique pilot project aims to improve the strength and breadth of local community/hospital/business/public health partnerships by linking two Wisconsin medical schools, 6 diverse rural communities, and the Rural Health Development Council to partner in improving the health of both rural communities and rural economies. The SRCI goal is to make prevention the norm in rural communities by building effective partnerships.

Strengthened Communications with Statewide Rural Health Partner Organizations: Re-designed and distributed program specific brochures and table top displays; Re-designed Wisconsin's annual Special Edition Reporter Newsletter for distribution at the 2006 Wisconsin Rural Health Conference; Redesigned Reporter E-Newsletter to provide extensive rural-specific monthly updates via live links (up to 40 new each month) to approximately 600 individuals in organizations throughout the state; Ongoing updates of www.worh.org with additions of an electronic HPLAP application; Co-Sponsored Wisconsin Rural Health Conference with QIO, Primary Care Association, and the Hospital Association.

SORH Strategic Plan and Business Plan Development: Engaged a nationally recognized consulting firm to begin the process of strategic plan and business plan development within the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, Interviewed 13 key rural health partners, each staff member, Associate Dean for Rural and Community Programs; Final report with recommendations will be presented to the Director and Associate Dean by October 31, 2006.

SORH Contact Information:

Office: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
Address: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health
310 N. Midvale Blvd., Suite 310
Madison, Wisconsin 53705
Phone: 608-261-1883
800-385-0005 (toll-free)
Fax: 608-261-1893
Email: kartheiser@wisc.edu
Website: www.worh.org
Director: Maureen Kartheiser, MSED, CHES

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 and integration of EMS.
Flex Award (FY05):$648,000

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 58
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 10
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 0
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 100
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 58

Major Accomplishments:

CAH Designations: 58 as of August 1, 2006

11 Workshops and Regional Forums Presented - Including Nursing, Financial Impact of CAH designation on Rural Hospitals, EMS, CMS Update, Quality Improvement, Workforce Development; 4 Regional Forums supporting regional networking and information gathering.

Community Development - Strong Rural Communities Initiative (SRCI) implemented providing extensive technical assistance to six rural community health projects to improve collaborative efforts between health and business sectors, as part of a statewide initiative through the Rural Health Development Council (RHDC). SORH fully engaged as lead staff to the Rural Health Development Council.

Flex Grant Program Grants to Communities - Process improvements to mini-grant application increasing the potential grant amount received from $25,000 to $50,000, adding a stronger technical assistance component through increase in FTE for technical support, and a more descriptive application.

Rural Hospital Diabetes Care Evaluation - Contracted with former Wisconsin Diabetes Collaborative public health leader, to develop, distribute, and analyze rural hospital diabetes initiatives.

Quality Improvement - Contracted with Wipfli, LLC to provide Balanced Score Card (Phase I) to four hospitals and advanced Balanced Score Card (Phase II) quality initiatives with 9 rural hospitals.

EMS/CALS: Former State of Wisconsin EMS director hired as consultant to develop online Weapons of Mass Destruction EMS training series for rural EMS provider; Comprehensive Advanced Life Support Systems (CALS) training to one rural hospital team; Working with rural physician, northwestern area technical college staff, and hospital system to grow the CALS program throughout rural Wisconsin; CALS, ATLS, and RTTDS Comparison Report completed and distributed to all rural hospitals in Wisconsin; Evaluated www.worh.org EMS website pages on for updated, accurate, and timely EMS information; Explored options for online CEU coursework for recertification of rural EMTs; Produced web-based EMS Weapons of Mass Destruction training modules and purchased software to provide additional CEU courses online; received recommendations from consultant regarding future programming.

Evaluation: Flex Evaluation consultant hired to provide preliminary evaluative investigation, including online survey of all CAH hospital administrators, thorough review of Flex program documents, conversations with Flex Staff and Director, and review of current evaluation measures in place culminating with a preliminary analysis in a final report and recommendations; Contracted with Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA) from UW to write an evaluation plan, support for the Strong Rural Communities Initiative through the University of Wisconsin Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA).

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. 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 between approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY 05): $214,820

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 56
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 26
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 39
• Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology: 36

Major Accomplishments:

Once again, the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative has requested funding on behalf of 20 of its member hospitals. This grant year, they plan to use the funds to support HIPAA Compliance training for staff members, physicians, board members, and the community; and QI in the area of training for software applications, outside consultation and needs assessment, physician training and support of electronic health records through the Wide Area Network, which was initially funded through SHIP funds previously. Of the 30 individual hospital applications, some of the most innovative requests were for CALS training, Upgrades to Electronic Medical Records, Improved ergonomics at nursing stations, a vulnerability risk assessment to better protect patient health information.

Total HRSA Funding (FY 05): $1,300,000