1. Rural Health Resources Collaborative opportunities, services and tools HRSA, ORHP, Outreach Grantee Partnership Meeting Sept 1, 2009

3. You might live in North Dakota if….. …your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through April. …someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there. …you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time. …you think that ketchup is a little too spicy.

4. You might live in North Dakota… If you can name all of the people in this picture.

5. Structure of State Offices of Rural Health All 50 states have a State Office of Rural Health(SORH). Although funding levels and sources vary, each SORH receives a portion of their funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy(ORHP) through the SORH Grant program, since1991. Most are located in State Department’s of Health, Universities and three are operated as not-for- profits. Number of staff and specific focus/projects will vary in each office.

6. Five Core Functions of SORHs 1. Collect and disseminate information on: –Rural health care issues; –Research findings related to rural health; –Innovative approaches to the delivery of care in rural areas (best practices); –Health care policy. Method of dissemination: Each SORH website, newsletters, webinars, workshops

7. Five Core Functions of SORHs 2. Coordinate state activities/entities around rural health issues to avoid duplication and strengthen impact. For example, initiatives on the following: Enhancing Broadband HIT/Telehealth Quality Networks (hospital, clinics) Patient Safety Projects Veterans healthcare services

8. Five Core Functions of SORHs 3. Provide technical assistance to communities/facilities/organizations For example: Grant writing workshops Grant proposal review Project evaluation Strategic Planning Board training Readiness for EMR Implementation

9. Five Core Functions of SORHs 4. Support, but not directly fund, the recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas. For example: Assess facility/community readiness for recruitment Participate/promote health career awareness projects in collaboration with AHEC, schools, healthcare facilities, state agencies, etc. Provide guidance to communities on recruitment/retention

10. Five Core Functions of SORHs 5. Develop and strengthen local, State and Federal partnerships on rural health issues. For example: Coordinate/facilitate statewide or network efforts around HIT/HIE Coordinate Workforce Summits or conferences in collaboration with AHEC and state agencies Coordinate collaboration between critical access hospitals(CAH) and Community Health Centers

11. How Do I Find my SORH? http://www.nosorh.org/

12. SORH Directory State Offices of Rural Health Directory: By State

13. NOSORH Priorities 1.Expand the rural healthcare workforce; 2.Improve rural America’s access to health insurance; 3.Reduce oral and behavioral health disparities in rural communities; 4.Enhance the delivery of rural emergency medical services(EMS); 5.Improve the status of small rural hospitals; and 6.Invest in, and expand the reach of, health information technology(HIT).

14. SORHs exist to partner and support your efforts …

15. For more information about NOSORH or SORH visit nosorh.org or contact Lynette Dickson, MS, LRD NOSORH President ldickson@medicine.nodak.edu 701-777-6049 Teryl Eisinger, MA NOSORH Director nosorhpd@comcast.net (586)739-9940