State Office of Rural Health (SORH)

The Center for Rural Health is designated as the North Dakota State Office of Rural Health, a federal-state partnership that helps rural communities build their healthcare services through collaborations and initiatives with a wide range of partners across the state.

What We Do For You

As the State Office of Rural Health, the Center:

• Supports and contributes to work related to: Hospitals and Facilities, Health Workforce, Working with Communities, Policy, and Educating and Informing
• Facilitates the annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.
• Administers and coordinates the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program in collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Hospital Association, and the Quality Health Associates of North Dakota (formerly North Dakota Healthcare Review), which is our state's CMS-contracted QIO (Quality Improvement Organization).
• Administers the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Rural Health Grant Program and Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP).
• Provides grant development assistance to communities working on federal, state, and foundation proposals.
• Serves as convener of the North Dakota Health Information Technology Advisory Committee.
• Helps keep rural health organizations informed about resources and opportunities through support of the Center for Rural Health monthly electronic newsletter.
• Collaborates with partner organizations such as the North Dakota Department of Health, Human Services; North Dakota Health Information Network; North Dakota Hospital Association; North Dakota Long Term Care Association; Mental Health America of North Dakota; North Dakota Medical Association; North Dakota Nursing Association; North Dakota Public Health Association; Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas; Quality Health Associates of North Dakota; and other University of North Dakota Departments.

Most Recent Publications

• Medical School and Interstate Balance of Trade Among Direct Patient Care Physicians in North Dakota
  Examines where North Dakota physicians attended medical school, and where North Dakota medical student are practicing with an emphasis on specific specialties.
  Author(s): Hart, G., Besse, R.
  Publication: North Dakota Health Workforce Fact Sheet Series, Number 32
  Date: October 2018
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Characteristics of U.S. and International Medical Graduates in Primary Care Physicians in North Dakota
  Examines the differences between U.S. and international medical graduates working as primary care physicians in North Dakota.
  Author(s): Hart, G., Besse, R., Peterson, M.
  Publication: North Dakota Health Workforce Fact Sheet Series, Number 37
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Demographics of Primary Care Physicians in North Dakota
  Examines the rural/urban status of primary care physicians and some of their characteristics.
  Author(s): Hart, G., Besse, R., Peterson, M.
  Publication: North Dakota Health Workforce Fact Sheet Series, Number 36
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Availability of Primary Care Physicians in North Dakota
  Examines the distribution of primary care physicians in North Dakota and details some of their characteristics.
  Author(s): Hart, G., Besse, R., Peterson, M.
  Publication: North Dakota Health Workforce Fact Sheet Series, Number 35
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Characteristics of U.S. Medical Graduates and International Medical Graduates in North Dakota
  Examines the differences between U.S. and international medical graduates working as primary care physicians in North Dakota.
  Author(s): Hart, G., Besse, R., Peterson, M.
  Publication: North Dakota Health Workforce Fact Sheet Series, Number 30B
  Date: August 2017
  Type: Fact Sheet

Most Recent Presentations

• Health Services for Special Populations: Rural and Community Issues (and Health Reform)
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Oct 15, 2018 at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, MPH 510 Health Care Systems, Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Health Policy Development and the Role for Rural Health
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Apr 09, 2018 at the University of Mary, Advanced Nursing Education - Common and Chronic Health Care Management 589, Bismarck, North Dakota
• Rural Health: Issues and Solutions for Rural Communities
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Mar 26, 2018 at the University of Mary, Advanced Nursing Education - Common and Chronic Health Care Management 589, Bismarck, North Dakota
• The Role of Cities in North Dakota: Economics, Demographics, and Social Make-Up
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Mar 20, 2018 at the North Dakota Demographic Conference, Fargo, North Dakota
• You Want Me to Write a Grant?
  Presented by Gibbens, B. on Mar 08, 2018 at the North Dakota League of Cities Conference, Bismarck, North Dakota