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October 2024
ORHPC Monthly Update
Flex Advisory Committee Member Vacancies
The Minnesota Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program Advisory Committee has vacancies for the following positions:
- Region 1 Critical Access Hospital Administrator
- Region 2 Critical Access Hospital Administrator
- Advanced practice provider
- Rural health clinic representative
To apply, please complete and submitthe 2024 Flex Advisory Committee Application (PDF) along with a copy of your resume/CV to health.flex@state.mn.us. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.
Have a question about which region you are in or your application? Please email: health.flex@state.mn.us
Data Corner
World Mental Health Day is Thursday Oct. 10
Individuals living in rural Minnesota experience barriers to accessing mental health resources and practitioners. One of those barriers is the travel time to access care. It takes individuals living in rural Minnesota twice as long to travel for in-patient mental health/substance abuse services compared to individuals living in urban zip codes (data and graph are from the Rural Health Care in Minnesota: Data Highlights Chartbook).
ORHPC Mental Health Research Highlights
The Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) convened a workgroup to assess mental health care in rural Minnesota. RHAC created a series of recommendations that included increasing awareness of mental health needs and resources, increasing access to services and supports, and strengthening the rural mental healthcare system and collaboration between stakeholders in a report, Recommendations on Strengthening Mental Health Care in Rural Minnesota.
Telehealth is another area of support that can help eliminate barriers to accessing mental health and substance abuse services, including the barrier of travel for individuals in rural Minnesota. ORHPC issued a spotlight on Telehealth Workforce Survey Results in August 2024 that highlighted provider responses on telehealth access.
This spotlight also highlighted providers being able to reach more patients throughout rural Minnesota, better care coordination and providing interventions that individuals can do at home.
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2025 Minnesota Hospital Registered Nurses Health Care Loan Forgiveness
The 2025 MN Hospital Registered Nurses Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program is accepting applications and will award up to $12,000 for a two-year service commitment to selected RNs working in direct patient care in a Minnesota non-profit hospital or public hospital. See Program Information Notice for all eligibility requirements. Application is competitive. Not all who apply will be selected. Previous applicants must reapply.
The purpose of Minnesota Health Professional Loan Forgiveness Program is to recruit and retain health care professionals to needed areas and facilities in Minnesota. Loan forgiveness is an important benefit for health care professionals as well as health care facilities and communities experiencing a shortage of access to health care services.
Application deadline: Oct. 6
2025 Preventive Services in Long-term Care Grant Program: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Long-term Care
The Preventive Services in Long-term Care Grant Program is accepting grant applications and will award grants to increase the capacity of residential facilities serving older adults to meet critical needs and provide services for their residents. The goal of the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Long-term Care grant program is to develop systems and strategies to ensure that LTC community residents have the safest, most appropriate, and cost-effective transportation services to participate in essential non-emergency health related appointments. Applicants are encouraged to propose creative solutions and unexplored approaches, as well as modifications to current resources, to fulfill this goal.
Eligible Applicants:
- Clinics
- Community Health Boards/Local Public Health
- For-Profit Organizations
- Hospitals
- Institutions of Higher Education
- Local Units of Government (cities, towns, counties)
- Nonprofit Organizations
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Tribal Governments
2025 Preventive Services in Long-term Care Grant Program: Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building in Long-term Care
The Preventive Services in Long-term Care Grant Program is accepting grant applications and will award grants to increase the capacity of residential facilities serving older adults to meet critical needs and provide services for their residents. The Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building in Long-term Care grant program priorities include:
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Priority Area 1: Increasing transferrable infection prevention and control capacity (knowledge, skills, and practices) among the LTC workforce and other LTC stakeholders in facilities or organizations serving older adults in a way that considers settings with high staff turnover.
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Priority Area 2: Improving facility ventilation and/or broader plant infrastructure to reduce transmission of infectious diseases among residents and staff in LTC facilities. Proposed improvements should focus on evidence-based recommendations to reduce the transmission of infectious disease.
- Clinics
- Community Health Boards/Local Public Health
- Hospitals
- Institutions of Higher Education
- Local Units of Government (cities, towns, counties)
- Nonprofit Organizations
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Tribal Governments
Rural Community Health Center Apprenticeship Grant
The Rural Community Health Center Apprenticeship Grant (RCHC) supports registered apprenticeship programs in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) operating in rural Minnesota. The goal of the funding is to support the rural primary care workforce by establishing new FQHC registered apprenticeship programs or funding costs of existing FQHC registered apprenticeship programs in rural parts of the state. This grant program is being administered by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care within the Minnesota Department of Health.
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Federally Qualified Health Centers and nonprofit associations of community health centers that are operating registered apprenticeship programs at FQHCs located in rural Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities Seven County Metro Area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.)
Application Deadline: Nov, 1, 4:30 P.M.
Other Funding
Minnesota J-1 Visa and Waiver
The Minnesota J-1 Visa Waiver Program, administered by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC), allows MDH to recommend up to 30 J-1 Visa Waivers for physicians living and working in Minnesota to address the shortage of physicians in rural and underserved urban areas.
Requests to MDH for waiver recommendations must come from the sponsoring U.S. health care facility registered to do business in Minnesota on behalf of a J-1 physician. Please note that the application cannot come directly from a J-1 physician or physician’s representative.
Applications are due Oct. 18, 4:30 P.M.
DHS seeks licensed professional to be involved in an External Program Review Committee (EPRC)
Qualified licensed professionals are invited to apply for the EPRC. The committee:
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Works with service providers licensed under Minnesota Statutes 245A and 245D to develop strategies for phasing out the use of restraint and improving quality of life for people with disabilities.
- Makes recommendations to DHS on policies and initiatives that impact Minnesota Rule 9544, also known as the Positive Supports Rule.
Qualifications
To apply for an open position, visit External Program Review Committee, Office of the Secretary of State. Please submit a resume and cover letter that highlights and explains how you meet the qualifications. Questions should be directed to Stacie Enders.
Rural Health Grant Writing Institute
National Organizations of State Offices of Rural Health cordially invites all rural health stakeholders to a unique learning experience where you can enhance your grant writing skills, turn rurality to your advantage, learn to connect with funders, and more!
The Rural Health Grant Writing Institute was developed to meet the unique needs of rural grant writers like you! Each session outlines one of the basic building blocks or strategies for successful program funding. The 9-session Institute runs from Oct. 21 to Dec. 16. Virtual learning sessions will occur on Mondays from 3:00 to 4:30 pm ET. Learn more and register by Oct. 11!
Free Rural Health Clinical Congress
The RME Collaborative invites you to attend the Rural Health Clinical Congress Fall 2024 on Saturday, Nov. 23! This free, multi-topic, interactive CME/CE conference is designed for clinicians serving patients from rural and underserved areas! The live broadcast starts at 8:00 A.M. and offers a unique opportunity to earn FREE CME/CE credits, including pharmacology credits for nurses.
SAVE THE DATE!
National Rural Health Day
Thursday, Nov. 21
Check out the 2024 National Rural Health Day Promotional Toolkit. This resource includes a PowerPoint template, social media graphics, activity sheets and more. With pre-populated social posts, sharing the day on social media channels is easy.
As November nears, let NOSORH know of any Rural Health Day events you are planning. NOSORH is looking to post events on its social media channels.
Learn more at powerofrural.org.
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Minnesota Rural Health Award Nominations
Don't forget that nominations are closing soon for the 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Hero, Team and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Minnesota Rural Health Awards are given to individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to improving rural health in Minnesota. The awards will be announced on National Rural Health Day, Thursday, Nov. 21.
Please think about the folks in your community and across the state who have played an important role in improving rural health and fill out the 2024 Rural Health Awards nomination form and send it to: health.orhpc@state.mn.us by Monday, Oct. 14.
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The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) promotes access to quality health care for all Minnesotans. We work as partners with policymakers, providers, and rural and underserved urban communities to ensure a continuum of core health services throughout the state.
651-201-3838
health.orhpc@state.mn.us
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