Rural Project Examples Addressing Clinics - Rural Health Information Hub

Community-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Updated/reviewed January 2024

Need: More evidenced-based chronic lower respiratory disease management options for rural Appalachia patients, where lung disease rates are among the highest in the country.
Intervention: Implementation of outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programs in 2 Federally Qualified Health Centers and a Critical Access Hospital in West Virginia.
Results: Improved health outcomes for patients with chronic lower respiratory disease, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Updated/reviewed January 2026

Need: Improve the oral health of children age 3-17 in rural areas of Louisiana.
Intervention: Leveraging 2012-2018 federal grant support, participating Federally Qualified Health Centers with school-based nurse practitioners were trained in oral health assessments and fluoride varnish application. When needed, dental referrals were also made. Interventions were tracked by dental case managers.
Results: After grant cycle completion, these oral health interventions are now fully integrated into routine school-based care health examinations with intervention data included in required annual reporting.

Added February 2026

Need: To help Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and home visiting programs reduce smoking rates in rural Yuba County, California.
Intervention: A five-year initiative helped FQHCs with integrating tobacco user identification and cessation referral protocols and helped home visiting programs with tobacco screening and family wellness education.
Results: FQHCs and family-serving agencies achieved systems-level change through comprehensive tobacco-free policies, human resources procedures, and client screening protocols.

Added February 2026

Need: To improve the recruitment and retention of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in rural northern California.
Intervention: A community of practice and grant program for advanced practice providers sponsored by the California Health Care Foundation and Partnership HealthPlan of California.
Results: Five rural clinics and one clinic network have joined the program and hosted fellows.

Added February 2026

Need: To improve hypertension in rural Iowa patients.
Intervention: Promise Community Health Center offers team-based care to help patients manage hypertension.
Results: The center increased its hypertension control rate from 73% in 2022 to 84% in 2024.

Updated/reviewed November 2025

Need: To help individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder access treatment and counseling in rural Missouri.
Intervention: The CMH Addiction Recovery Program provides medication-assisted treatment, counseling, peer and family support, and other related services within a Rural Health Clinic.
Results: The program operates 5 days a week and sees 400 patients each month.

Updated/reviewed November 2025

Need: To bring preventive care and other services to rural Missouri patients with chronic illnesses and difficulties accessing primary care.
Intervention: Community paramedics make home visits and provide basic care, home assessments, and medication reconciliation and facilitate telehealth visits.
Results: Patients experienced improved access to care, health status, and compliance with medication regimens along with increased patient engagement, satisfaction, and access to community resources.

Updated/reviewed October 2025

Need: To help inform western Wisconsin residents about their health insurance options, community resources and programs, and opportunities to improve their overall health and wellness.
Intervention: The Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers' Help Team provides free, comprehensive services to help community members overcome barriers to accessing healthcare, including challenges related to health insurance coverage, cost of care, transportation, and other social factors that affect well-being.
Results: In 2024, nearly 1,500 people received support and guidance from the Help Team regarding programs, resources, and health insurance enrollment. In total, 411 individuals were enrolled in health insurance.

Updated/reviewed April 2025

Need: To increase access and quality of care for patients in rural Maine.
Intervention: Community hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Maine formed the Community Care Partnership of Maine Accountable Care Organization (CCPM ACO).
Results: CCPM serves about 120,000 patients in Maine. In addition, it has implemented shared savings arrangements/contracts with different Medicare Advantage and other private health payers.

Updated/reviewed October 2023

Need: Across Georgia, especially in rural areas, poor health outcomes and high poverty rates require strategic investments to reduce disparities and improve health across the state.
Intervention: Georgia Health Initiative invests in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) working in Georgia to build a strong ecosystem of mission-driven community lenders focused on rural and low-income communities. The capital and capacity building provided by CDFIs support systems change to improve health across the state.
Results: Since 2017, grants and Program Related Investments (PRIs) in CDFIs working in low-income rural communities have generated impact through stronger and growing Community Health Centers, expanded affordable housing, green energy loans and jobs, and growing small businesses.