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Rural Health Information Hub

Importance of Sustainability Planning

Each care coordination program will need to develop a sustainability plan tailored to its specific needs. Sustainability planning involves considering the following key issues:

  • Making the best use of human, financial, and in-kind resources
  • Ongoing staff training
  • Continued engagement of consortium partners and stakeholders
  • Reimbursement and/or funding options in the short-term and long-term
  • Demonstrating the impact of the program by measuring health related savings associated with care coordination activities

Care coordination programs should consider working with partners who provide sustainability support through conducting outreach, marketing, and other communications, and attending regional funder meetings, for example.

The Rural Health Information Hub provides a list of resources to help rural organizations plan for sustainability.

For additional information about sustainability planning, see Planning for Sustainability of Your Community Health Program in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Resources to Learn More

Developing a Plan for Financial Sustainability
Tool
This toolkit describes the key elements involved in developing a plan for financial sustainability, and provides lessons that The Community Tool Box has learned from its own experiences.
Organization(s): The Community Tool Box
Date: 2013

The Dynamics of Sustainability: A Primer for Rural Organizations
Document
This document is a sustainability planning "starter guide" for rural organizations and collaborations that are starting a new program.
Organization(s): Health Resources and Services Administration
Date: 2/2012

Sample Sustainability Action Plan
Document
This document provides an example of a sustainability action plan, including components, action steps, and timeline.
Organization(s): Consulting Services for Community Solutions
Date: 2008

A Sustainability Planning Guide for Healthy Communities
Document
A guide that provides a process for sustaining policies and activities, sustainability approaches, and examples; intended for use by public health professionals, coalitions, and community stakeholders.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date: 2/2012