Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence

This four-year, $12 million project engages a multidisciplinary team to identify health care gaps in rural counties and support those communities in developing solutions. The Center of Excellence administers $7 million in planning and implementation grants to address rural health concerns across the state.

The Center of Excellence is built around five cores:

• The Administrative Core provides technical support and fosters collaboration to drive change in rural health care.
• The Evaluation Core assesses and reports on impact.
• The Planning and Implementation Core identifies and pilots innovative solutions.
• The Sustainability and Dissemination Core shares best practices across the state.
• The Practice Optimization core partners with clinical practices to identify sustainable funding sources and optimize care efficiency and effectiveness.

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Technical and Operational Assistance

The Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence will soon offer technical and operational assistance to organizations or individuals working in the rural healthcare space in the following categories:

• Practice Performance Infrastructure
• Clinical Operating Model
• Workflow and Care Delivery Redesign
• Value-Based Care Readiness and Financial Alignment
• Tech and Interoperability Enablement
• Implementation and Change Management
• Interim/Temporary Role Backfill
• Qualitative Research Support
• Quantitative Research Support

We plan to begin reviewing these assistance requests in August. Our ability to fulfill the requests will depend on the subject matter expert’s availability and the nature of the request. To submit a request, please email [email protected] and include the support category in the subject line. We look forward to working with you! 

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Aug. 25: Stories from the Field Webinar

Beyond the Grant:

Building Sustainable Rural Mental Health Access Through Partnership and Infrastructure

Healthcare grants can catalyze innovation, but sustainable improvements in rural mental health access require trusted partnerships, strategic collaboration, and long-term infrastructure. Join us at 12:00 CDT for this session, which explores how Cumberland Pediatric Foundation has leveraged Healthcare Resiliency Program initiatives to help rural communities strengthen access to behavioral and mental health services for children and families across Tennessee. Special guests include Jessica Ray, MBA, executive director of the Cumberland Pediatric Foundation; and Michael Hook, MBA, director of research and education at the foundation.

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Telehealth Tuesdays

The Telehealth Tuesday webinar series covers everything from innovation to practical concerns.

Sept. 1, 12:00 pm CST: The second Telehealth Tuesday webinar will feature an Innovation Programs Panel discussion. Panelists include Heather Crouch, BSN, MBA, virtual health manager for the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

Sept. 15, 12:00 pm CST: The third Telehealth Tuesday webinar will cover Billing and Reimbursement in Tennessee. Hayley Prosser, director of revenue cycle services at ruralMED Revenue Cycle Resources, will be the guest.