The Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) Program is designed to help policy makers, both in Washington and throughout the Nation, better understand the problems that rural communities face in assuring access to health care for their residents. This is the only Federal program that is dedicated entirely to producing policy-relevant research on health care in rural areas. Initiated in 1988, it is administered by the Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Centers study critical issues facing rural communities in their quest to secure adequate, affordable, high quality health services for their residents. The Centers' research findings inform a wide audience of National, State, and local decision-makers concerned with rural health. Research findings have been instrumental in bridging gaps between policy and program needs and have assisted in educating legislators and policymakers. In addition, the Research Centers have trained many health services researchers.

Each year, specific research topics for the Centers are selected jointly by the Research Center Directors and the policy staff of the Office. The emphasis is on research that will have a timely impact on policy debates and decisions at Federal and State levels.

Six Centers have cooperative agreements with the Office for FY2001-2004 – three General Centers and three Analytic Centers. Both General and Analytic Centers concentrate on policy-focused health services research. The Analytic Centers also provide rapid-responses to emerging policy issues, generally using innovative research approaches and techniques.

Rural Health Research Centers funded by this program have published their research findings in a large number of journals, book chapters and monographs. The Office website: www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov, provides a list of reports and ordering information. The Rural Health Research Center cooperative agreement program was competed in FY2000. The next competition will occur in FY2004.

For additional information on this program, contact:
Joan F. Van Nostrand, DPA
Director of Research
Office of Rural Health Policy
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9A-55
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: (301)443-0835/Fax:443-2803
E-mail: jvan_nostrand@hrsa.gov
www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov

• A list of ORHP FY2005-2008 Rural Health Research Centers Programs

• A list of ORHP FY2001-2004 Rural Health Research Centers Programs

• 1999-2003 Publications from the Rural Health Research Centers

• Rural Health Research In Progress, February 2004 (870 kb pdf)

• Rural Health Research Centers Projects for Fiscal Year 2005
• Database for Rural Health Research in Progress

• Policy-Oriented Rural Health Services Research Grant Program

• A list of Federally Funded Rural Health Research Centers, begins on page 59.