The purpose of the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program is to strengthen the quality improvement culture in small rural healthcare facilities by building capacity to effectively collect and use clinical data while implementing evidence-based approaches to improve health care quality with a particular focus on improving chronic disease outcomes. Additionally, the program strengthens the skills and collaboration of the billing and coding staff in coordination with the front-line clinical staff. By creating a sustainable quality improvement capacity in small hospitals and clinics, these facilities will be better positioned to take part in value-based care models while also enhancing health care status for their patients.

Eligible applicants must be a rural domestic public or nonprofit private health care provider or provider of health care services, such as a critical access hospital, a rural health clinic; or be another rural provider or network of small rural providers identified by the Secretary as a key source of local or regional care; and not previously have received an award under this subsection for the same or similar project. The applicant organization must be located in a rural area.

Kristin Martinsen kmartinsen@hrsa.gov