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
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