Issue #4 | Monday, September 6, 2010

+ Partners Investing in Nursing's Future Program Awards $2 Million in Grants

The Robert Wood Johnson and Northwest Health foundations have announced grants totaling $2 million to nine regional grantmakers working to develop strategies for creating and sustaining a viable nursing workforce.

The grants were made through the Partners Investing in Nursing's Future (PIN) program, which has awarded $12 million over the past five years to develop a nursing workforce that is large enough and equipped with the skills necessary to meet the changing demands of the patient population. Recipients include the Bingham Program in Maine, which is working to redesign nursing education in the state; the Caring for Colorado Foundation, which is working to increase the number and core competencies of home healthcare nurses; and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, which is addressing workforce retention issues at acute and long-term care institutions.

Continue reading... (Source: Philanthropy News Digest, September 2, 2010)

+ Rural Populations Have Higher Rates of Chronic Disease

“Rural Populations Have Higher Rates of Chronic Disease” is the title of an article in Amber Waves, a publication of USDA. The article discusses the higher rates of mortality, chronic disease, and disability found in rural Americans when compared to urban residents, and the special challenges that may impair the health status of rural residents.

Get the article...

+ Webinar: Financing Opportunities in Rural Communities

September 14, 10:00-11:30 AM EDT: “Building Community Facilities.” Learn first-hand how a small Central Appalachian bank worked with a variety of investors, partners and credit enhancement tools to finance the development of a much-needed rural health center in Duffield, VA.

Register online... (and view other Webinars)

+ Cincinnati, Detroit selected as final health IT pilot communities under innovative HHS Recovery Act Beacon Program

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that Cincinnati and Detroit are the two final pilot communities selected under the new Beacon Community Program that is using health information technology to help tackle leading health problems in communities across the country.  At the same time, the program will also allow HHS to look for new ways to share the lessons learned by funded communities and, working with local and national health care foundations, develop support networks for other communities that want to employ similar innovative approaches.

Continue reading... (Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, News Release, September 2, 2010)

+ Nearly 2,000 employers and unions approved into new program

Affordable Care Act program will help pay health benefit claims for early retirees; applications still being accepted

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of applicants accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.  Nearly 2,000 employers, representing large and small businesses, State and local governments, educational institutions, non-profits, and unions have been accepted into the program and will begin to receive reimbursements for employee claims this fall.

Continue reading... (Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, News Release, August 31, 2010)

+ HHS Awards $17 Million for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced three sets of grants and cooperative agreements totaling nearly $17 million for patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), or research that compares treatments and strategies to improve health outcomes for patients.

The three-year funds, made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will establish a network of PCOR centers, enable PCOR in pediatric emergency medicine, and support building capacity for community-based providers to engage in this type of research.

Continue reading... (Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, News Release, September 1, 2010)

+ AgriSafe Network Webinar

DATE:  Sept 16, 2010
TIME: 12-1pm CDT

TOPIC: The ATV Injury Epidemic
Dr. John Hafner, MD
Department of Emergency Medicine, OSF St. Francis Medical Center

Session link: http://uiowa.na5.acrobat.com/jhafner/

To join a webinar, click on the link  -- or copy and paste it into a browser window. At log in, enter your name in the username box and leave the password box empty.  

For more information, contact: Stacey M Jenkins, Distance Education Coordinator
Ph: 563-650-3921
sjenkins@agrisafe.org
www.agrisafe.org

+ Technical Assistance Call: Rural Health Network Development Grants

The Technical Assistance Call is on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. EST.  The toll-free number to call in is 1-888-603-9752. The Passcode is Network.   For your reference, the Technical Assistance call will be recorded and available for playback within one hour of the end of the call and will be available until November 12, 2010. The phone number to hear the recorded call is 1-800-944-3317.  The application due date is November 12, 2010.

To download this funding opportunity, visit: www.grants.gov Once you are on this website, please click on Find Grant Opportunities, Basic Search where you can type in the announcement number (HRSA-11-089) or CFDA number (93.912). All applications are required to be submitted electronically - no paper applications will be accepted this year. ORHP strongly encourages applicants submit their applications ahead of the due date to avoid any technical problems.