Rural Hospitals Get State, Federal Grants

COLUMBUS – Small and rural hospitals across Ohio are improving services to their communities thanks to $663,300 in federal and state grants administered by the Foundation for Healthy Communities of the Ohio Hospital Association. The federal funds are provided through the Ohio Department of Health and its State Office of Rural Health.

Receiving grants of $20,100 each are 33 hospitals designated as critical access hospitals. The funds are from the Ohio Small Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) and the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex). The funds can be used by the hospitals to support emergency medical services improvement, quality improvement, performance and patient safety.

Among projects the funds are supporting include plans to:

§  network with the community by providing various wellness programming for residents.

§  implement a medication prescription software program to improve the medication reconciliation process.

§  install wireless technology in order to allow the hospital to implement an electronic health record.

§  enhance patient safety and quality of care by upgrading an outdated cardiac monitoring system in the emergency department.

§  improve safety and security of patients and patient data by replacing internet connection and security equipment.

Hospitals receiving these funds are:

§  Adams County Regional Medical Center, Seaman

§  Adena Greenfield Medical Center, Chillicothe

§  Allen Community Hospital, Oberlin

§  Barnesville Hospital, Barnesville

§  Bluffton Hospital, Bluffton

§  Bucyrus Community Hospital, Bucyrus

§  Community Memorial Hospital, Hicksville

§  Defiance Regional Medical Center, Defiance

§  Doctors Hospital of Nelsonville, Nelsonville

§  Dunlap Community Hospital, Orrville

§  Fayette County Memorial Hospital, Washington Court House

§  Fostoria Community Hospital, Fostoria

§  Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon

§  Galion Community Hospital, Galion

§  Hardin Memorial Hospital, Kenton

§  Harrison Community Hospital, Cadiz

§  H. B. Magruder Memorial Hospital, Port Clinton

§  Henry County Hospital, Napoleon

§  Highland District Hospital, Hillsboro

§  Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Logan

§  Holzer Medical Center-Jackson

§  Lodi Community Hospital, Lodi

§  MedCentral Health System Shelby Hospital, Shelby

§  Mercy Memorial Hospital of Urbana, Urbana

§  Mercy Willard Hospital, Willard

§  Morrow County Hospital, Mount Gilead

§  Paulding County Hospital, Paulding

§  Pike Community Hospital, Waverly

§  Selby General Hospital, Marietta

§  Twin City Hospital, Dennison

§  University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center, Conneaut

§  University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center, Geneva

§  Wyandot Memorial Hospital, Upper Sandusky

About the Foundation for Healthy Communities
The Foundation for Healthy Communities was established in 1994 and its mission is to advance good health for all Ohioans. It initiates and champions health improvement and education by engaging partners, promoting proven strategies and advocating for wellness. Learn more about the Foundation for Healthy Communities at www.HealthyCommunitiesOhio.org.

About OHA
The Ohio Hospital Association was established in 1915 and currently represents 169 hospitals and 18 health systems throughout Ohio. OHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities. Visit OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.org. Follow OHA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OhioHospitals. 

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