An ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is being featured Thursday, November 17th during the celebration of National Rural Health Day.
Through this partnership USDA and HHS have worked together with government and non-government partners at the local, state and national levels in 20 states to convene workshops focused on linking rural health care providers with financing, technical assistance, and broadband connectivity they need to expand the services they provide their communities.
“Access to quality healthcare is critical for rural Iowans and the communities in which they reside,” said Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. “Helping leaders in our rural communities identify ways to improve these opportunities for all rural Iowans is an important emphasis at USDA Rural Development.”
That is why, since 2009, USDA Rural Development has supported major facility or equipment improvements at more than 100 rural Iowa hospitals, medical clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and/or assisted living facilities with nearly $435 million in funding.
USDA Rural Development funding has assisted in the construction of new hospitals in places like Clarinda, Denison and Sumner, along with expansions and improvements in Jefferson, Oskaloosa, Belmond and Guttenberg. The agency has also partnered to create rural clinic spaces, both for doctors and dentists in communities such as Ogden and Wapello.
Earlier this fall a campus-wide open house was held in Jefferson to celebrate the completion of a large expansion and renovation project at Greene County Medical Center. The project, which added approximately 51,000 square feet to the hospital along with significant renovations throughout the existing building, received an $18 million direct loan and a $2 million loan guarantee from USDA Rural Development.
During the past five decades the medical center in Jefferson had undergone many renovations and additions. This project was the first that focused on tying the campus together through a central walkway and elevator to improve access, privacy and efficiency.
USDA Rural Development funds were used to demolish a portion of the south wing and to construct a 51,000-square-foot addition to the existing facility that includes a new primary care unit with private patient rooms, a new surgery area and new space for radiology, laboratory and respiratory therapy.
“It has been five years since USDA and HHS formalized their partnership to streamline how our programs work together to support rural health and to improve the health and wellbeing of rural communities, including through the use of technology and health information that is accessible when and where it matters most,” said Leila Samy, Rural Health IT Coordinator, HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. “Over these five years, rural communities and rural health care providers in every state and territory have accessed USDA Rural Development financing and HHS technical assistance to help improve local access to care, and our two agencies have forged a lasting partnership.”
For more information about this initiative, please see the joint USDA and HHS National Rural Health Day posting on the USDA Blog.
Still, rural health providers nationwide continue to express concerns that that access to financing assistance remains a top challenge. With this continuing joint initiative, USDA and HHS are expanding access to financing by rural health organizations to support rural health care infrastructure needs, including health information technology and telehealth needs.
“In Iowa, our rural hospitals are strong, provide quality care and do so in an amazingly affordable way,” Menner said. “That is way it is important for rural Iowans to stand up, celebrate the health care they receive and work to ensure the hospitals and clinics which provide that care are around for many years to come.”
USDA Rural Development’s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. During the past eight years, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $4.5 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families.
This past year USDA Rural Development’s assistance in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,000 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.
“We are proud to serve the needs of rural people and places to ensure that rural America continues to thrive and drive the economy,” Menner added. “We are very happy to be a partner with all the businesses and communities we serve as they work hard to make investments that have long-lasting impacts to help improve the quality of life for rural residents.”
Contact USDA Rural Development
For more information about finance programs available through USDA Rural Development, please call (515) 284-4663 or visit the agency’s web site at www.rd.usda.gov/ia.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has produced historic investment in rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have strengthened America’s small towns and cities and helped improve the nation’s economy.