Rural Health Links

Model Programs & Best Practices

Texas A&M System Health Science Center,
The School of Rural Public Health,
Southwest Rural Health Research Center,
Rural Healthy People 2010
http://www.srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/rhp2010/default.htm

Description: The Rural Healthy People 2010 project wants to maximize the impact of Healthy People 2010 on health conditions in rural America. The project reviews 12 rural health priority areas, identified by a nationwide survey of rural health leaders, and presents community-based Models for Practice employed to address these priorities.

Information Available: Models for Practice (contains contact information and project overview, key elements of the program, assessment and outcomes of program, major steps in the development of the program and challenges and solutions encountered), summaries of rural health concerns, literature reviews and the finalized Rural Healthy People 2010 document.

Federal Government:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ),
Rural Health
www.ahrq.gov/research/ruralix.htm

Description: AHRQ (formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) research provides evidence-based information on health care outcomes; quality; and cost, use and access. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services.

Information Available: Agency press releases, workshop summaries, research findings and activities, data and surveys, clinical information, news and funding opportunities.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Office of Rural Health Policy
ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/

Description: HRSA's Office of Rural Health Policy works within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and in conjunction with other Federal agencies, States, national associations, foundations and private-sector organizations to seek solutions to health care problems in rural communities. The Office also assists in developing rural health finance policy, particularly in terms of how Medicare and Medicaid programs affect access to health care for rural populations.

Information Available: National Committee on Rural Health, grant programs, the Rural Information Center Health Services, research and state programs, recent Federal legislation relevant to rural health, news and events, publications and a variety of links.

US Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Library (NAL)
Rural Health Services Funding: A Resource Guide
www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/healthguide.htm

Description: The Rural Information Center (RIC), part of the NAL, provides information and referral services to local, state and federal government officials; community organizations; rural electric and telephone cooperatives; libraries; businesses and rural citizens working to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas.

Information Available: A resource guide designed to help hospitals, clinics, community health centers and other rural health providers learn more about various funding options to meet their capital needs. It is not intended to be comprehensive, but to represent examples of federal grants, direct loans and loan guarantee programs, foundation funding and other resources that may be potential sources of capital support.

Missouri Government:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS),
Section for Community Health Systems and Support,
Primary Care and Rural Health Unit
www.dhss.mo.gov/PrimaryCareRuralHealth/

Description: The Health Systems Development Unit offers resources and technical assistance to individuals, communities, associations and agencies to evaluate and improve access to health care services. The ORH provides information, assistance and resources to help address health care issues in rural areas.

Information Available: 2002 Rural Health Report-Biennial Report to the Governor and General Assembly, Critical Access Hospital and Rural Network Development Program, Health Professional Shortage Areas and additional links to state resources.

National Organizations:

AcademyHealth,
Networking for Rural Health
www.academyhealth.org/ruralhealth/index.htm

Description: Networking for Rural Health, a three-year initiative of AcademyHealth with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, intends to strengthen the rural health care infrastructure by fostering the development of rural health networks that seek to improve access to and the quality of health care services in rural communities.

Information Available: Grantees of the initiative with overview, background and some specifics on the project and the targeted consultation provided by AcademyHealth, tools, conferences, publications and the initiative's final report-Using Rural Health Networks to Address Local Needs: Five Case Studies.

Institute of Rural Health (IRH)
www.isu.edu/departments/irh/

Description: The mission of IRH is to improve the health of rural communities in Idaho and the Intermountain Region, as well as throughout the Nation and the World through research, education and service.

Information Available: Projects of IRH with links to additional information, research programs, service and program evaluation projects, telehealth toolbox, community education projects, publications and recent news.

National Rural Health Association (NRHA)
www.nrharural.org

Description: The NRHA works to develop the health and health care of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural issues through advocacy, communications, education and research.

Information Available: Government affairs and policy work, rural health clinics, State Rural Health Associations, Rural Medical Educators Group, Medicare debate, Journal of Rural Health, publications, minority issues, funding opportunities, rural health research, conferences and events, rural health job bank and rural health links.

Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI)
www.rupri.org

Description: RUPRI conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs.

Information Available: RUPRI centers (Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, National Center for Entrepreneurship in Rural America, Community Informatics Resource Center, Rural Poverty Research Center and the Rural Assistance Center), programs (rural health panel, rural welfare reform panel, rural telecommunications panel, community policy analysis network, rural policy, venture and equity capital panel, rural health works and rural hospital flexibility tracking project), policy partners (congressional rural caucus and the national rural network), publications, presentations, news, events and updates.