The MCRH is organized on a directorship basis. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of representatives from each of the following organizations:
To view the 2007 Strategic Direction Plan, click here.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
State Office of Rural Health
The MCRH, under annual contract to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), serves as the Michigan State Office of Rural Health (SORH), as designated by the Office of Rural Health Policy within the US Health Resources and Services Administration, a Health and Human Service agency. This activity is supported by a state/federal cooperative agreement. As the SORH, the Center coordinates resources and activities statewide on the development of a comprehensive approach to rural health care delivery, collects and disseminates information concerning rural health issues, provides technical and other assistance and support for the development of services in rural Michigan, promotes recruitment and retention of health professionals, acts as an advocate between state and federal agencies and rural communities, and strengthens state/local/federal partnerships.
Michigan Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
The MCRH, under an annual contract with the MDCH, coordinates the development and implementation of Michigan’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Critical Access Hospital “CAH”).
Michigan now has thirty-four CAHs, all 25 beds or smaller, all in rural communities, all networked with a tertiary care facility, and all providing 24 hour access to emergency care. Each rural community served by a CAH has been the recipient of hospital focused community health grants for network development; medical staffneeds assessment, comprehensive recruitment and retention services,quality improvement programming, and EMS coordination. Additionally, the Michigan Flex Program supports the Michigan CAH Quality Network (MICAH). MICAH meets quarterly, collects and reviews health indicators, and posts best practices. Through MICAHs efforts Michigan CAHs have lowered the time to treat community-acquired pneumonia below the national and State average.
The Michigan Flex program is supported by a MDCH state/federal cooperative agreement averaging $500K per year over the past five years.
Office of Public Health Preparedness
The continued development and implementation of plans to assist certified RHCs in the improvement of the communication capacity through the Michigan Health Alert Network system.
Recruitment and Retention Services
The MCRH provides a comprehensive Recruitment and Retention Program managed by the Recruitment Coordinator. This program includes assisting in the training of an on-site recruitment coordinator, opportunity assessment, development of site-specific marketing, sourcing of candidates, representing rural Michigan facilities at physician conferences, screening of potential candidates, conducting telephone interviews to develop candidate profiles, providing appropriate candidate profiles to sites, assisting and preparing Area Health Education Consortium clinical sites, promoting collaboration between allied health training institutions and rural facilities, and pre-qualifying sites for state and federal loan repayment, NHSC Scholar Program and HPSA status.
Small Hospital Improvement Program
As the SORH, the Center has been contracted by HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy through MDCH to administer the Small Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP). This project provides grant-funding support for rural hospitals under 50 beds to assist with HIPAA compliance, implementation of the prospective payment system, or quality of care/patient safety issues. Each of Michigan’s 30 qualifying hospitals received a $10,000 grant in 2002 to assist in implementing one of these three objectives; and received another $9,700 in 2003.
Rural CRNA Program
The purpose of the Beaumont Hospital Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Education Rural Initiative is to increase the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRHAs) in rural Michigan through the expansion of the Oakland University Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia. This expansion is accomplished by increasing the number of enrolled students from rural areas, incorporating distance learning, on-line course instruction, simulation technology, and rural clinical sites. The implementation of distance learning technology through partnerships with rural tertiary care hospitals facilitates the outreach in rural Michigan. The promotion of the program, and the recruitment of rural registered nurses, is the responsibility of the MCRH.
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) Board Member
NOSORH/National Association of State EMS Directors Task Force
Small or Rural Hospital Council of the MHA
Michigan Rural Health Association
Office of Public Health Preparedness Advisory Committee
Michigan Pre-Hospital Data Task Force
National Recruitment and Retention Network Board Member
Michigan Recruitment and Retention Network
Michigan Arthritis Collaborative Partnership
Michigan Stroke Initiative Collaborative
| Phyllis Ball | Education & Communication Coordinator | (517) 355-8250 |
| John E Barnas | Executive Director | (517) 432-9216 |
| Angie Emge | Hospital Program Administrator | (517) 355-7757 |
| Mary Firdawsi | Administrative Assistant | (517) 355-7979 |
| Sydni Johnson | EMS Programs | (517) 355-7979 |
| Steve Shotwell | Recruitment Services | (517) 355-7758 |
| Leah Vreibel | Administrative Assistant | (517) 355-7979 |