Network Development
Establishing a rural health network is a condition of participation for the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, and a majority of State Flex Programs require network formation for every CAH. Network activities include patient transfer agreements, quality assurance or improvement activities, referral arrangements, specialty services, and administration. These networking activities foster economy of scale and integration of effort, as well as expand access to resources such as medical information and telecommunications.
Tools
Agreement for
Professional Emergency Services
This document, developed by the Dr. John Warner Hospital in Clinton IL, is a
cost-based agreement between a hospital and a provider of emergency medical
services for emergency room coverage in critical access hospitals.
Physician's Web Portal
This document is a grant application for a web portal that will bring several
clinical support systems together. The portal will provide secure, online access
to patient information, lab and pathology results, and radiology reports. It
will also provide online libraries for physician's reference. For a copy of this
document, send email to Larry Baronner.
Ambulance Services Networking Initiative
This tool, developed by the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Rural
Health, is used to identify ambulance services and prioritize assistance based
on need in order to improve the statewide ambulance network.
CAH Telehealth Network
This statement, developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Center
for Rural Health, describes the approach being taken to promote and implement
telemedicine using an existing network serving local government, public schools,
libraries, and universities.
Emergency Preparedness:
Integrated Community Solutions (EPICS)
This document describes a project in the State of Indiana that addresses how
entire communities can organize themselves to prepare for emergencies by making
strategic use of telecommunications and information technology.
Sample Network
Agreement
This agreement, developed by the Nebraska Hospital Association, covers CAH
patient referrals and transfers, transportation, communication systems,
credentialing and quality assurance.
Resources
The Academy for
Health Services Research and Health Policy
(Not a U.S. Government Web Site)
This site contains six network development publications on topics including
strategic planning, network management and shared service collaborations.
Local Networking
Strategies used by Critical Access Hospitals
(Not a U.S. Government Web Site)
This chapter of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Tracking Project Year 2
Report looks at local community networking activities in State Flex Programs.
Critical Access
Hospitals and Network Development
(Not a U.S. Government Web Site)
This chapter of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Tracking Project Year 2
Reports analyzes CAH networking experiences and lessons learned.
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
(Not a U.S. Government Web Site)
This site contains resources for developing coordinated systems of rural health
care and provides several examples of how networking can benefit rural
hospitals.
The Network Development
Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
The Network Development Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
located at the Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State
University assists Office of Rural Health network development and
network planning grantees with information, tools, resources and
onsite technical assistance.