Rural Project Examples Addressing Healthcare facilities

Franklin Cardiovascular Health Program (FCHP)

Updated/reviewed March 2025

Need: To develop sustainable, community-wide prevention methods for cardiovascular diseases in order to change behaviors and healthcare outcomes in rural Maine.
Intervention: Local community groups and Franklin Memorial Hospital staff studied mortality and hospitalization rates for 40 years in this rural, low-income area of Farmington to seek intervention methods that could address cardiovascular diseases.
Results: A decline in cardiovascular-related mortality rates and improved prevention methods for hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking.

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 July 2024

Need: Solutions for Medicare beneficiaries' post-acute care recovery gaps in Arkansas's southeast Delta Region.
Intervention: Supported by federal funding and their membership organization, seven hospitals implemented an evidence-supported Critical Access Hospital transitional care model.
Results: Participating hospitals found a significant increase in swing bed services revenue, an all-cause low readmission rate, high percentage of patients discharged to home or to an assisted living environment, and positive patient satisfaction surveys.

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 January 2026

Need: To reduce the number of overdoses and overdose-related deaths from opioids in rural Pennsylvania.
Intervention: ARMOT provides 1) case management and recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorders and 2) education and support to rural hospital staff, patients, and their loved ones.
Results: Since 2015, ARMOT has received over 2,956 referrals.

Updated/reviewed January 2026

Need: To improve people's health in a rural 16-county region in Illinois.
Intervention: A coalition of local health departments and healthcare facilities coordinates regional efforts, which are implemented locally by health community coalitions.
Results: HSIDN has created toolkits, developed resource guides, and provided wellness trainings, among other initiatives.

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.