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Rural HOSPITAL HEALTHSYSTEM INITIATIVES

PORH’s Critical Access Hospitals and Healthsystem Initiatives are designed to promote overall quality improvement of Pennsylvania’s rural hospitals. PORH administers two federal programs in Pennsylvania: the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex) and the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP). Through the Flex program, PORH supports Pennsylvania’s smallest rural hospitals with improving operations, quality, financial performance, community engagement, and health system development. SHIP offers rural hospitals the support necessary to make meaningful gains in the use of health information technology via investments and quality improvement.

Oral Health

PORH has implemented several projects designed to better understand and improve oral health throughout rural Pennsylvania. Our rural health dental initiatives and projects include the MORE Care Program, the Pennsylvania Oral Health Collective Impact Initiative (POHCII), and Oral Health Status of Low-income Children in Pennsylvania: A Rural/Urban Comparison. The MORE Care Program partners with rural health clinics to integrate and provide oral health care services alongside primary care. In partnership with federal, state, and private organizations, PORH is improving access to dental screening, sealants, and oral health care, to promote the overall oral health status of residents throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, PORH collects data to make policy recommendations to ensure continued support of efforts to significantly improve oral health services in rural Pennsylvania.

Worker Protection Standard
and Agricultural Safety and Health

Through the Penn State Worker Protection Standard Program, PORH provides information, resources, and assistance for agricultural producers, farm workers, and their advocates to understand and comply with Environmental Protection Agency Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements. The needs of all farm workers are important to us, including Anabaptist and migrant farm worker populations. Our agricultural safety and health programs offer WPS worker and handler training. Additionally, farm evaluations are available through PORH to assist growers with achieving WPS compliance. PORH assists growers with a variety of concerns. This program is managed by PORH and the Penn State Pesticide Education Program, and is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry.

Continuing Education & Outreach

PORH offers a variety of programming and services to promote rural health throughout Pennsylvania. Resources and information offered include continuing education programs and community outreach events focusing on a wide range of topics important to rural health allies in our communities. PORH education and outreach services focus on: leadership and management skills, rural migrant and immigrant health, grant writing technical assistance, community health needs assessments, program evaluation, and more. In addition to year-round services, PORH also hosts several special events of interest to rural health advocates. We are pleased to work with our state and federal partners to host a variety of engaging and informative rural health-related events throughout Pennsylvania.

Swimming Pool Pesticide
Applicator Training Program

PORH’s Swimming Pool Pesticide Applicators Certification and Recertification Training Programs are designed to help pesticide applicators meet the requirements for applying pesticides at public bathing facilities safely, properly, and effectively. For those planning to take the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s pesticide application exam, PORH’s Swimming Pool Pesticide Applicators Certification Program provides essential information and classroom training. For currently certified pesticide applicators interested in obtaining the continuing education credits required to maintain their certification in Category 24 (Swimming Pool Information Updates), and in the respective CORE category (Pesticide Regulations and Health Safety Information), we offer our Swimming Pool Pesticide Recertification Training Program. These programs are offered through our partnership with Penn State’s Pesticide Education Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Population Health

PORH provides access to a wide variety of useful information, resources, and data related to rural health in Pennsylvania. Find health disparities and demographic data by county. View and compare indicators by zip code, county, and census tract level. Track each county’s progress toward the Healthy People 2020 Targets. Health leaders are able to access promising practices from our database of thousands of successful programs. The SocioNeeds Index identifies the highest level of socioeconomic need by zip code. Use the CHNA Guide to support efforts to improve the health in your area. If your community is facing a specific health-related challenge, find grants here to help address the issue.