Rural Health Medical Program history

1984 – Terry Hill had a vision for regional health care quality and networking and started the Regional Feasibility Project, funded by the Blandin Foundation.

1985 – Northern Lakes Health Consortium (NLHC) emerged, one of the first rural health networks, with hospital, clinic and nursing home members.

1987 – NLHC first discussed starting a Minnesota Rural Health organization at a National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting.

“The Rural Health Clinic Services Act: Pubic Law 95-210”, January 1991, A report of the Office of Rural Health Policy prepared by the National Rural Health Association

1993 – The Center initiated the Health Professional Placement and Retention Program through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant with the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care for greater Minnesota hospitals and clinics to provide primary care recruitment services for communities.

1994 – The Center incorporated as a nonprofit organization.

Since 1997, hundreds of new clinics have been certified to participate in the program; however, many clinics approved in the early ‘90s have chosen to discontinue participation in the program.

1998 – The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) contracted with The Center to develop a national resource center to support State Offices of Rural Health (SORH).

2001 - The Center and MSG developed and implemented the Mississippi Delta Rural Hospital Performance Improvement (RHPI) Project through a contract with the FORHP.

2003 - Minnesota Center for Rural Health became the Rural Health Resource Center and coordinated the first rural health quality summit in 2003 with national quality and rural health leaders.

“Starting a Rural Health Clinic: A How-To Manual” Winter 2004, A publication funded by HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy with the National Association of Rural Health Clinics under Contract Number 00-0245 (P).

2006 – The Center formed the Rural Health Information Technology (HIT) Coalition to disseminate HIT information and to maintain a cadre of trusted rural HIT experts.

2011 - Through a contract with Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) FORHP, The Center began providing support to the 41 Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program Grantees for three years.

2015 – The Minnesota State Innovation Model (SIM) project selected The Center to provide technical assistance to 15 Accountable Communities Health (ACH) grantees using innovative payment and care delivery models that are responsive to local health needs.