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Rural Route

December 8, 2009
In this Issue
State Profile - Wyoming
HITECH Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Educational Opportunities
2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop
New Rural Research
TASC Book Club Books
Save the Dates
Quick Links
TASC Web site
Grants.gov
NOSORH
RAC
ORHP
Greetings!

This edition of Rural Route includes the State Profile for Wyoming and information on health information technology funding opportunities from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

On December 9th, I encourage you to tune in to a highly recommended educational opportunity on Community Benefit by dynamic speaker, Jim Krile, titled "Your Hospital and Your Community: Vital Allies in Health Care".

And finally, make sure to review the application information to attend the 2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop from ORHP - a great opportunity!
 
Sincerely,
 

Tracy Morton
Farewell and Welcome!
TASC and the Rural Health Resource Center bid farewell and best wishes to the following Flex Program personnel:
  • Chris Tilden, Director of the Kansas Office of Local and Rural Health will be leaving his current position in June 2010 to become the Executive Director of the Mountain States Group, Inc. Mountain States Group, Inc. is a diverse non-profit organization working in health and human services, including efforts on rural health, mental health, public health, healthy children, refugee resettlement, and healthy aging.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

TASC and the Rural Health Resource Center also extend a very warm welcome the following personnel to the Flex Program:

  • Samantha Williams with the federal Office of Rural Health Policy Hospital-State Division. Samantha is the new project officer for Region B including the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. 
New Staff or Contact Info Changes?
09FlexCoorManual

Do you have new staff in your State Flex Program or changes to your contact information?


If so, please click here to email TASC!
State Profiles

In order for the State Flex programs to network together and avoid reinventing the wheel, TASC is currently contacting the Flex programs and the State Offices of Rural Health to collect information on their staff members, major program areas, and successful activities.  The information will be used to facilitate communication among other State Flex programs with similar interests and will be highlighted in TASC's electronic newsletter, Rural Route.  The state profiles will also be uploaded onto the TASC Web site

wyoming
Wyoming State Profile

Flex Program Staff

State Office Director

Ron Pearson, MHA, CFAAMA
(307) 777-6970
Specialty Areas / Background
Leadership/mentorship. Ron was a Colonel in the United States Air Force and was most recently the Commander of the 90th Medical Group at FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY.

State Office Director since July 2007


Flex Coordinator

Sharla Allen
(307) 777-7293
[email protected]

Specialty Areas / Background
Recruitment and Retention; Team Building; Event Planning. Sharla has split her 25 year career between working in rural health and reproductive health in both state government and non-profit organizations.

Flex Coordinator since July 2007


Vice President, Wyoming Hospital Association

Steve Bahmer
(307) 632-9344
[email protected]

Specialty Areas / Background
Healthcare Technology; Government Affairs; Professional background and personal interests in communications. Steve has launched a private venture with a partner to utilize that communications background to help professional and student organizations think differently about major strategic issues like leadership, change, and communication.

Vice President since January 2008

Administrative Assistant

Keri Wagner
(307) 777-6512

Specialty Areas / Background
Rules; Contracts; QHI State Administrator

Administrative Assistant since February 2008
 
 
Most Significant Flex Program Achievement for Wyoming:

Wyoming is the ninth largest state geographically, yet the least populated. The Flex program has provided a need and a means to bring the CAHs together in an organized manner through the development of the Wyoming Critical Access Hospital Network. Leadership at the WCAHN level (CAH CEOs), the Wyoming Hospital Association (which provides day to day leadership to the WCAHN), and the Wyoming Office of Rural Health has made it difficult for the WCAHN to grow. There has been stability within these three organizations for about a year and a half, and the WCAHN is now in a position to pursue meaningful initiatives that provide benefit to its members.

Top Three Flex Activities in 2009 for Wyoming:

1.    Education
Nurse Leadership training - Flex dollars support a video conference, 8-module certificate course for nurses who are new to leadership positions. The training is provided through the Laramie County Community College. Enthusiasm for the course is high, and carryover funds supported another round of trainings in the summer of 2009. In the 2009 - 2010 grant, the courses will be available to new leaders in departments outside of nursing also.

2.    Quality/Performance Improvement
Six of Wyoming's 15 CAHs are participating in the CAH Multi-State Quality and Performance Improvement Project during the 2008 - 2009 Flex grant year. All 15 will participate in the 2009 - 2010 grant year.

3.    Networking
The Wyoming Critical Access Hospital Network (WCAHN) has gained momentum and is actively participating in the planning the Flex grant application. WCAHN is also pursuing co-op purchasing for several items and services. Flex dollars are also funding a new state-of-the-art web site for WCAHN. WCAHN is in the early stages of designing professional peer networks for CFOs and HR staff in CAHs, based on the best practices program in Idaho.

Wyoming Flex Program Success Story
"Maximizing Opportunities in CAHs", a training presented by Mike Bell, CPA and revenue/reimbursement expert was very successful in Wyoming. As a result of this training, two Wyoming CAHs have sent their CFO to Mike's on-site "Boot Camp" for CAH finance and reimbursement.

Wyoming Flex Program Details
Location: Wyoming Department of Health, Rural and Frontier Health Division, Office of Rural Health

HITECH Funding Opportunities

The following includes recently announced funding opportunities available to state governments, 501(c)3 organizations, institutes of higher education, community colleges, and consortia from the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (or HITECH Act) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:

Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement
This program will provide $235 million to communities to build and strengthen their health information technology (HIT) infrastructure and exchange capabilities to demonstrate the vision of meaningful HIT. Cooperative agreement awards will go to approximately fifteen entities representing geographic care communities. Applicants must fall into one of the five below categories:
  1. State, local, tribal, or territorial government entity with a public health focus
  2. Integrated delivery network or health system with broad community partnerships 
  3. Independent physician association or consortium of medical groups
  4. Public/private partnership aimed at health system improvement and/or community health improvement 
  5. ONC-funded regional extension center with the capacity to expand its services

Curriculum Development Centers
This program will provide $10 million in grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to support HIT curriculum development. The Office of the National Coordinator for HIT plans to make up to five grant awards that will support curriculum development to enhance programs of workforce training primarily at the community college level.  The materials developed under this program will be used by the member colleges of the five regional consortia as well as be available to institutions of higher education across the country.


Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center Program (cycle 2)
The regional extension centers will offer technical assistance, guidance, and information on best practices to support and accelerate health care providers' efforts to become meaningful users of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The extension program will establish an estimated 70 (or more) regional centers, each serving a defined geographic area. The regional centers will support at least 100,000 primary care providers, through participating non-profit organizations, in achieving meaningful use of EHRs and enabling nationwide health information exchange. The estimated range of award values for the initial two-year budget period is approximately $1 million to $30 million per Regional Center, with an estimated average of around $8.5 million. Funding has now been reduced to awards in two cycles, versus the originally proposed three, with all awards issued by March 31, 2010.


Community College Consortia to Educate Health Information Technology Professionals 
The Community College Consortia to Educate Health Information Technology Professionals in Health Care program will provide $70 million to rapidly create HIT academic programs at Community Colleges (as defined by the 1965 Higher Education Act) or expand program that educate on HIT.  Each student with appropriate prerequisite training and experience will be able to complete intensive training in one of six roles within six months or less.  Roles include: Practice workflow and information management redesign specialists; Clinician/practitioner consultants; Implementation support specialists; Implementation managers; Technical/software support staff; and, Trainers.  Academic programs may be offered through traditional on-campus instruction or distance learning modalities, or combinations thereof. Eligible applicants may be institutions of higher education.  Any university that applies must also be engaged in providing training in HIT. The lead awardee will also need to provide a list of the Community Colleges in the consortia that will receive funding through the project as sub-awardees.
Upcoming Educational Opportunities 

December 9, 2009
Your Hospital and Your Community: Vital Allies in Health Care
Sponsor:
Rural Health Innovations
Format:
Webinar
Sponsor Description:
The relationship between a rural hospital and its community is an important one, and one that can bring a multitude of mutual benefits if handled and nurtured appropriately. Additionally, documenting community benefits will soon be mandatory for hospitals, making it even more important for hospitals to identify how they can work with their communities and, subsequently, document the benefits (including economic impact).
Cost: $99 per line

For additional information, please visit the Rural Health Innovations Web site or contact Sally Trnka.


December 15, 2009
Sponsor: QHR Learning Institute
Format: Online Course
Sponsor Description: Coding in a CAH is widely misunderstood, with opinions running to extremes. Attend this session presented by Linda Coe, QHR Senior Consultant, and learn what's really different about inpatient and outpatient coding in a CAH, how coding effects compliance, and your final settlement. The means may have changed, but the goal is still the same.....the right payment for what you really did. Bust the myths with this on-line program for department managers and coders alike.
Cost: QHR-affiliated organizations: $175 per program connection. Non-QHR-affiliated organizations: $239 per program connection.
 
For additional upcoming distance learning opportunities, please visit the Rural Hospital Education Gateway Web site.
2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop

On November 25th, an email was sent from Steve Hirsch to all Flex Coordinators announcing the 2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop. The federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) plans to continue the Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop exclusively for ORHP grantees. The primary intent of this workshop is to provide a tailored leadership development program for potential rural health leaders and to ensure a greater diversity of leadership for rural communities.

Applicants for the program must be a current grantee and not have any previous national leadership experience or training. There are four slots allocated for Outreach, Network Development, Delta and two slots allocated for Network Planning, Quality, Black Lung Clinic Program, RESEP, State Office and Flex grant programs. All travel, food and hotel accommodations will be paid by the ORHP.
 
The meeting will be held on March 29 - 31, 2010 in Washington, DC and will be a two � day meeting over the course of three days.  The first day will cover health policy issues at the national level which will help grantees understand how these issues affect them at the local level, the second day will be the leadership skills workshop and the third day will be lessons learned.  This last day will focus on the information, skills and strategies you have learned and ways you will utilize them in your community.

Application Guidelines:
The guidelines for the application process are listed below.  Before applying for the 2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Program Meeting, please read through each section thoroughly to determine eligibility.
 
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • Applicant must be a current Outreach, Network Planning, Delta, Network Development, Black Lung, RESEP, Quality, FLEX, State Office Grantee; 
  • Applicant has not had previous national leadership experience or training;
  • Applicant cannot have had previous experience advocating at a national level;
  • Applicant must be willing to commit sufficient time to the program;
  • Applicant must have the ability to travel and be available on meeting dates and listen in on the conference call prior (date TBD) to the meeting date;
  •  Applicants under State travel restrictions should not apply;
  • Applicants from all rural areas of the country are encouraged to apply as the program seeks geographic balance.
Items to Submit with Application:
  • Cover Letter including the name of the ORHP grant program for which the applicant is a grantee.
  • Essay answering the following question: (one page or less)
    • State your interest in attending the program. 
    • How does the program fit into the growth and development of your career?
    • How will you use the program to benefit your community?
  • Brief resume including work telephone number and e-mail address.
  • One letter of recommendation
Dates to Remember:
Application Due Date: Applications should be emailed no later than December 22, 2009.
Selections: Final selections for the 2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Program Meeting will be announced in February 2010.
 
Please do not mail applications. Applications will only be accepted electronically. Please email applications to:
Subject Line: Rural Voices Leadership Program Application
Attn: Shelia Tibbs, Public Health Analyst
Email: [email protected]     
Phone : 301-443-4304

For additional questions on the 2010 Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop, please contact Steve Hirsch.
New Rural Research on HPSAs and Rural Health Care Access

Persistent Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Health Care Access in Rural America (Policy Brief)

From the Rural Health Research Center at the University of Washington, "this study examined the degree to which persistence of primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSA) designation in rural counties was associated with lower population socioeconomic status and deficiencies in access to health care services. It used a 5-level classification of rural counties and their partial-vs. whole-county persistence of primary care HPSA designation to stratify rural populations by socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, primary care supply, health insurance uptake and access to needed health care services. Those U.S. rural counties that were persistently designated as whole-county HPSAs were found to have much lower socioeconomic status, and adults residing in these counties reported substantial financial obstacles to obtaining needed health care services. Rural counties that were persistently designated as whole-county HPSAs also faced severe provider shortages, and adults residing in these locations were less likely to have a regular primary care provider. The ability to identify persistence and extent of HPSA designation may be a valuable tool in selecting counties with higher levels of need."

For more information or to view additional rural research, please click here to visit the Rural Health Research Gateway.
TASC Book Club Books

TASC offers multiple new Book Club books each quarter.  We ask that you please choose one selection during the quarter.  The TASC Book Club is open to all State Offices of Rural Health and Flex Program Staff (limit one book per state per quarter).  Please contact Jere-lyn Fern if you have any questions on this new method for the TASC Book Club or would like to order a book from the selections below.

Emergency Medical Services: At the Crossroads (Future of Emergemsbookency Care)

Authored by the Committee on the Future of Emergency Care in the United States Health System, Emergency Medical Services: At the Crossroads (Future of Emergency Care) "examines the operational structure of EMS by presenting an in-depth analysis of the current organization, delivery, and financing of these types of services and systems. By addressing its strengths, limitations, and future challenges this book draws upon a range of concerns: the evolving role of EMS as an integral component of the overall health care system; EMS system planning, preparedness, and coordination at the federal, state, and local levels; EMS funding and infrastructure investments; EMS workforce trends and professional education; and EMS research priorities and funding."


Lead
ing your Healthcare Organization to Excellence
spath
Leading Your Healthcare Organization to Excellence "uses the well-known Baldrige Criteria as a road map for increasing care quality at your organization. Rather than an ill-defined management fad, the Baldrige Criteria provide an efficient outline for quality improvement that has delivered proven results across many industries, including healthcare. The criteria can help you pinpoint trouble spots and prioritize improvement activities. Use the book's many helpful tools, including key points, self-assessments, and reflections, to adapt the Baldrige model to the specific needs of your organization. Positive changes in the attitudes, services, processes, measurement, planning, leadership, and patient satisfaction at your organization can all be inspired by the Baldrige Criteria."
 
Request Your Copy of one Book Club Book Today!
Save the Dates
Below please find a list of upcoming events in the next four months.  If you have an event that you would like posted, please contact Tracy Morton.

The 21st Annual Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care will be December 6-9, 2009 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida.

December 9-11, 2009 NRHA Minority and Multicultural Health Conference
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Minority and Multicultural Health Conference will be December 9-11, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee at The Peabody Memphis.  This year's theme is "Blueprints for Success: Ideas for Change".

January 19, 2010 Indiana Rural Health Public Policy Forum
The 8th Annual Indiana Rural Health Public Policy Forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 19, 2010.

January 25-27, 2010 NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Policy Institute will be January 25-27, 2010 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.
 
The 23rd Annual American Hospital Association (AHA) Rural Health Care Leadership Conference will be February 7-10, 2010 in Pheonix, Arizona at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.
The 14th Annual South Carolina Rural Health Conference will be held at the Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, South Caroline from March 17-18, 2010.
 
The Northwest Regional Critical Access Hospital Conference will be March 23, 2010 at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, Washington.  This conference is produced and supported by state offices of rural health for Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

The Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference will be March 24-25, 2010 at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, Washington.  This conference is produced and supported by state offices of rural health for Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. This year's conference is titled "Weathering the Perfect Storm: Challenges & Changes".

March 24-26, 2010 NARHC Spring Institute
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) Spring Institute conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio from March 24-26, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.