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Center for Rural Health Resources

Educating & Information

The Center for Rural Health is committed to enhancing the understanding of rural health issues in our state, region, and the nation. We work with a wide range of rural stakeholders to:

  • Raise awareness about the challenges facing rural communities
  • Help people working on rural issues share their experiences and learn from one another
  • Support informed decision making

What We Can Do for You

In the area of educating and informing, we offer:

  • Key North Dakota rural statistics, maps and supporting information via publications, including fact sheets, maps, and more.
  • Presentations by our staff on a wide variety of rural health topics. For more details or to request a presentation, see our speakers bureau.
  • Professional development opportunities at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health as well as other workshops and meetings.
  • E-mail updates on state and national resources and opportunities via the Center for Rural Health Update
  • The Rural Health Information Hub's website offers an online clearinghouse with information on 80 key rural health and human services topics and all 50 states, examples of successful programs and approaches, tools to support grant writing, free customized assistance and much more.

Our Expertise

Our staff and faculty present and publish on a wide range of rural health topics at the national, regional, tribal, state and community levels. We also serve on a variety of national and regional boards, committees, and task forces, all with the aim of helping to inform people, organizations, and policy discussions about rural issues.

We provide information to the North Dakota Legislature, the Governor's office, and our state's federal delegation, as well as to legislative staff across the country.

The Center for Rural Health has operated the Rural Health Information Hub since 2002 and also oversees one other national online information portal, the Rural Health Research Gateway.

Key Contact

Kristine Sande, Associate Director

Evaluation

The Center for Rural Health supports rural and tribal communities in evaluating the merit or worth of rural health policies, projects, programs, agencies, or systems. For evaluators, the merit is determined by the extent of accomplishing what is intended. For example, is the program operating as intended? Is the program achieving its intended outcomes? Evaluations of worth supply information on effectiveness and whether investments are worthwhile. CRH assists with evaluations while activities are in progress, allowing stakeholders to make improvements. Or after the fact, assessing goal achievement.

What We Can Do for You

In the area of evaluation, we offer:

  • Technical assistance in determining the merit or worth of a policy, project, program, agency, or system.
  • Program evaluation services to help organizations assess the effectiveness of their efforts, improve programs, and report accomplishments to stakeholders and funders.
  • System evaluation services to help stakeholders define a system, assess subsystem processes, evaluate coordination between subsystems, and determine a system's effectiveness as a whole.
  • Assistance with evaluation planning.
  • Evaluation capacity building to help an organization strengthen its capacity to conduct and use evaluation effectively.
  • Guidance and support in designing a program or policy based on research evidence.
  • Publications such as fact sheets, journal articles, and presentations.

Our Expertise

The Center for Rural Health has faculty with extensive experience in program planning and evaluation for local, county, state, federal, and international programs. Our evaluation experts can help plan and conduct evaluations of a wide variety of programs, as well as build an organization's capacity to conduct evaluations itself. Furthermore, CRH faculty and staff are among few evaluators to conduct system evaluation, resulting in CRH faculty developing a new practical framework for practicing system evaluation.

CRH faculty evaluates services on behalf of foundations, state government agencies, and a variety of federal agencies. The Center's evaluators have a wide network of contacts involved in rural health research across the country, as well as connections with key organizations and agencies within North Dakota.

Key Contact

For general inquiries about CRH evaluation:

For inquiries about specific evaluation topics:

  • Health Networks, Health Policy, Quality of Patient Care, Hospital & Primary Care, Public Health Programs, Rural Health Outreach, Network Development, and Network Planning Grants – Brad Gibbens

Policy

The Center for Rural Health supports rural and tribal health through policy work at the state, regional, tribal and national levels. We help policymakers and people interested in healthcare delivery get the information they need by:

  • Studying the impact of current policies and regulations on communities
  • Examining the potential impact of proposed policy changes on communities
  • Supporting informed decision-making through provision of data and research

What We Can Do for You

In the area of policy, we offer:

  • Policy-related research through the Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center.
  • Policy-relevant information on topics that concern you, your organization, or community through policy-focused presentations on current issues, policy briefs, other publications, and the Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Health Policy guide.
  • Assistance in understanding the impact of current and proposed policies on rural health and how you can provide input to policymakers.
  • Assistance to your organization in policy framing. CRH faculty and staff have specialized training in policy communications and messaging.

Our Expertise

We have a 40-year history of supporting North Dakota health policy. Our staff and faculty serve on national and state policy relevant boards and committees such as the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and National Rural Health Association (NRHA). Staff and faculty have provided testimony at the state and federal level on key rural and tribal issues. The Center provides support and information to North Dakota's Congressional delegation, the Governor's office, state legislators, and various associations and organizations.

Key Contact

Brad Gibbens, Acting Director

Research

The Center for Rural Health undertakes research initiatives to support rural and tribal communities by:

  • Identifying and describing health disparities
  • Examining issues related to healthcare service delivery and systems, health workforce, and population health
  • Supporting the development of research expertise

What We Can Do for You

In the area of research, we offer:

Our Expertise

The Center for Rural Health is home to many programs engaged in research. The Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center is one of seven CRH national programs. CRH also houses theNational Resource Center on Native American Aging, which works with tribes nationwide on community-based participatory research. CRH faculty conduct research on behalf of foundations, North Dakota state government agencies, and through support from a variety of federal programs. The Center's researchers have a wide network of contacts involved in rural health research across the country, as well as connections with key organizations and agencies within North Dakota. Mapping and working with large databases, including Medicare data, are skills of the Center's research team. The CRH is also home to the Rural Health Research Gateway, which provides access to research conducted by all of the Rural Health Research Centers throughout the nation.

Key Contact

We are interested in all aspects of research that relate to rural and tribal health. For general inquiries about CRH research:

For inquiries about specific research topics:

Working with Communities

The Center for Rural Health works with rural and tribal communities to build responsive and sustainable health systems and strong rural health organizations. We help communities:

  • Engage their community members
  • Build collaborative and cooperative relationships across organizations and communities
  • Develop their local healthcare capacity and workforce
  • Promote healthy communities and lifestyles
  • Evaluate current programs and develop new ones
  • Learn about and implement innovative strategies

The CRH works with many types of health organizations including:

  • Hospitals
  • Public health units
  • Nursing homes
  • Clinics
  • Ambulance units
  • Community health coalitions and networks

What We Can Do for You

In the area of working with communities, we offer:

Our Expertise

The Center for Rural Health was created in 1980 to have a primary mission of providing service and assistance to rural communities in the development of stronger, more viable health systems and to improve the health status in rural North Dakota. We have over 30 years of experience in working directly with rural communities to help them to identify and develop community-based solutions to their local health issues and to advocate for rural concerns. We have conducted numerous community engagement efforts including strategic planning, network development, grant development, community needs assessments, and other assistance focused on building local capacity. The Center for Rural Health believes in the power of the rural community and its members to articulate and construct their own vision for community health.

Key Contact

Aging

As the population over the age of 65 continues to grow, both in the state and nationally, the Center for Rural Health works to address issues of aging in rural and tribal communities. Our staff:

  • Work to ensure access to healthcare and support services in communities.
  • Research the availability of services for aging populations.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of innovative services for individuals with dementia.
  • Provide culturally appropriate information and training to assist in the prevention of Elder abuse and increase quality of life for Elders in tribal communities.

The Center for Rural Health's Rural Health Information Hub lists additional rural aging information and resources.

Key Contact

Collette Adamsen, PhD - Program Director

Behavioral Health

North Dakota faces a serious lack of behavioral health services and professionals. Stigma and privacy concerns associated with mental health issues in rural areas may mean that many people do not seek out the few services available. The Center for Rural Health works to offset behavioral health disparities by:

  • Supporting rural health facilities as they work to provide behavioral health services.
  • Addressing the lack of culturally competent behavioral health professionals in tribal communities.
  • Sharing behavioral health research, data, and best practices.
  • Utilizing relevant state, tribal, and local data to guide North Dakota's substance abuse prevention planning, programming, and evaluation.

Key Contact

Rebecca Quinn - Program Director

Disease and Injury

The Center for Rural Health supports rural communities in addressing chronic disease and injury by:

  • Researching levels of injury and chronic disease burden in North Dakota.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of chronic disease management and support services.
  • Promoting healthy lifestyles in rural communities as a means to avoiding chronic disease and injury.
  • Assisting communities and facilities in planning and implementing clinical prevention and coordination services.

Key Contact

Rebecca Quinn - Program Director

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in North Dakota face significant challenges. Over 90 percent of EMS staff are volunteer, with continually dwindling numbers. Many ambulance services and quick response units do not have reliable and sustainable funding sources. To support North Dakota EMS, the Center for Rural Health:

  • Conducts research on rural emergency infrastructure.
  • Facilitates and encourages the ongoing collaboration between EMS and Critical Access Hospitals throughout North Dakota.
  • Partners with the North Dakota EMS Association to provide quality improvement initiatives for EMS units.
  • Works with North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Systems and other stakeholders to determine how a community paramedicine model might work in North Dakota.
  • Support efforts to assist critical access hospitals and rural communities in developing collaborative regional or local systems of care, addressing community needs and integrating EMS.

For more information, see the Rural EMS and Trauma page on the Center for Rural Health's Rural Health Information Hub website.

Key Contact

Jody Ward, Program Director

Health Information Technology

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. The Center for Rural Health encourages these efforts in North Dakota by:

  • Supporting rural healthcare facilities' efforts to implement electronic health records and reach Meaningful Use.
  • Participating in North Dakota's state-wide efforts to establish a health information exchange.
  • Working with statewide entities to ensure the successful use of HIT to improve quality care for North Dakotans.

Key Contact

Jody Ward, Program Director

Health Workforce

The Center for Rural Health assists rural areas in meeting their health workforce needs. Using state and federal resources, we:

  • Educate North Dakota students about rural health careers
  • Research workforce issues at the state and national level
  • Provide assistance in matching healthcare professionals and rural communities

What We Can Do for You

In the area of health workforce, we offer:

Our workforce specialist actively monitors workforce needs in rural communities and seeks out providers and health professionals to meet those needs.

Hospital Workforce Survey

Key Contact

Hospitals and Facilities

Strengthening and sustaining rural healthcare infrastructure means access to quality healthcare for rural North Dakota residents. We work with rural hospitals, facilities, and others interested in rural healthcare to:

  • Provide rural facilities opportunities to maintain and improve the care they give
  • Support current healthcare systems, allowing them to flourish
  • Distribute various grants to sustain health systems

What We Can Do for You

Related to Hospitals and Facilities, we provide:

Our Expertise

We initiated and currently support the North Dakota CAH Quality Network, which is a resource for CAHs to share best practices and quality initiatives. We also work with both rural and urban hospitals to coordinate meetings and continuing education opportunities. Our staff are invited to present, at the state and national level, on the collaborative efforts related to quality and patient safety taking place in rural North Dakota. They also serve on a variety of committees related to EMS, HIT, quality improvement and other topics related to rural healthcare.

Key Contact

Native Americans

Native Americans have historically faced greater health disparities than almost any other population in the United States. The Center for Rural Health works with tribal communities to help improve health outcomes and wellbeing for American Indians.

What We Can Do for You

Related to Native Americans, we provide:

Our Expertise

Our Native American programs have a predominantly indigenous staff with expertise in Native geriatrics, Elder abuse, mental health, suicide prevention, health disparities, community-based participatory research and tribal participatory research, resiliency, health, and wellness. We have worked with 234 of the 560 federally recognized tribes.

Key Contact

Oral Health

The Center for Rural Health works in a variety of ways to address oral health issues in North Dakota. We support North Dakota rural communities in addressing oral health issues by:

  • Evaluating unmet needs and existing workforce capacity for oral healthcare statewide
  • Examining the impact of efforts to improve access to dental services
  • Analyzing oral health data and oral health status in the State
  • Collaborating to provide resources for best practices and proposed models of oral healthcare
  • Assessing oral health services among long term care facilities
  • Researching knowledge of pediatric oral health preventative measures among clinic providers

The Center for Rural Health's Rural Health Information Hub lists additional oral health information and resources.

Public Health

Solid public health services can improve the overall population health, meaning healthier communities and healthier North Dakotans. The Center for Rural Health works to further the public health mission in North Dakota by:

  • Working with diverse organizations to build partnerships and improve population health in rural areas.
  • Coordinating the annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.
  • Gathering statistical data on various North Dakotan health aspects to inform stakeholders, educators, and policy makers.
  • Providing technical assistance on accreditation, grant writing, needs assessments, improvement planning, and community engagement for local public health units.

Key Contact

Quality

Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, no matter your address or the size of your primary healthcare facility. The Center for Rural Health leverages resources to sustain and enhance the quality healthcare provided by North Dakota's rural hospitals and clinics by:

  • Coordinating statewide efforts for critical access hospitals to share best practices, tools, and resources related to providing quality care.
  • Facilitating the distribution of grants to rural communities to improve programs, equipment, and overall care.
  • Collecting data for healthcare facilities to benchmark work and improve practices, resulting in even better care for rural North Dakotans.

For more information on the importance of quality healthcare nationwide, see the Healthcare Quality page on the Center for Rural Health's Rural Health Information Hub website.

Key Contact

Jody Ward, Program Director

Rural Definitions

The concept of rurality is an inexact term that means different things to different people. Many definitions have been created through the years to be used for different purposes. The Center for Rural Health has significant expertise with rural definitions, including:

  • Helping communities/facilities find out if they're considered rural – see the Rural Health Information Hub's Am I Rural? tool.
  • Communicating which rural definitions are used by various programs.
  • Helping funders and policymakers choose appropriate definitions for programs targeted at rural communities.
  • Creating new definitions of rurality.

For more information, see the What Is Rural? page on the Center for Rural Health's Rural Health Information Hub website.

Key Contact

Brad Gibbens, Acting Director