Implementation Resources

Rural services integration programs require different resources, including funding, staff, legal assistance, and leadership and partnerships.

Funding

Funding may be needed for space, supplies, staff salaries, and outreach and engagement and activities. More information on funding programs can be found on the Rural Health Information Hub’s Rural Funding & Opportunities page.

Staff

Staff are an important resource to rural services integration programs. Staff requirements, roles, and responsibilities need to be clearly defined at the outset of a program. Staff may require specific trainings or certifications to participate in a services integration program. Additional information about staff training can be found in the Training section of this module.

Legal Assistance

Legal assistance may be needed to address confidentiality issues, reimbursement and billing issues, and regulations. Some services integration programs, like the Community HUB model, may require legal assistance to negotiate contracts with participating providers. Other programs like the one-stop shop model may require legal assistance to determine how to bill for services delivered by different providers.

Leadership and Partnerships

Buy-in from key partners and having a “champion” for the program is important. Different partner organizations may contribute different resources to the services integration program. More information can be found in the Local Leadership and Commitment section of this module.

For additional information on needed resources for program implementation, see Implementation Considerations in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Resources to Learn More

Federal Funding for Integrated Service Delivery
Document
Guides users through federal funding opportunities while focusing on components of services integration, targeted populations, and possible issues that may arise.
Organization(s): CLASP and the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Date: 1/2011

Ten Key Principles for Successful Health Systems Integration
Document
This article discusses ten universal principles of successfully integrated healthcare systems.
Author(s): Suter, E., Oelke, N., Adair, C., & Armitage, G.
Citation: Healthcare Quarterly (Toronto, Ont.), 13(Spec No), 16
Date: 10/2009