Center for Rural Health

What Center for Rural Health does

The Center for Rural Health (CRH) is a university-affiliated research and program center housed within the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, established in 1980 as North Dakota's designated State Office of Rural Health. It operates a portfolio of programs spanning research and evaluation, healthcare quality improvement, public health, policy analysis, health workforce development, and community engagement, serving rural and tribal communities across North Dakota, the Great Plains region, and nationally. CRH addresses the structural healthcare challenges of rural and frontier areas, including provider shortages, geographic access barriers, and the unique policy needs of tribal communities, through technical assistance, applied research, and direct program administration.

CRH runs a broad program portfolio anchored by the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), a national clearinghouse funded through a $15 million five-year HRSA grant that serves 2.4 million visitors annually with funding opportunities, model programs, toolkits, and evidence-based topic guides. The organization coordinates the North Dakota CAH Quality Network, which has included all 36 Critical Access Hospitals in the state since its 2007 inception, and connects 53 Rural Health Clinics through the Rural Health Clinic Network. Other notable programs include the National Resource Center on Native American Aging, the Rural Health Research Gateway, the Behavioral Health Bridge website, Project ECHO teleconsultation, the Flex Program and Small Hospital Improvement Program, the R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academy workforce pipeline, the Community Apgar Project, Community Health Needs Assessments, the North Dakota Qualified Service Provider Hub, and the BCBS ND Caring Foundation BUILD Grants Program. The underlying technology consists of web-based content platforms, online service locators, and video teleconsultation infrastructure; no proprietary AI/ML systems or custom software products are described.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through grants from federal agencies, primarily HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, with additional state appropriations and foundation support (notably the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation, which has distributed $3.26M in BUILD grants to North Dakota communities since 2001). The organization employs 101-250 staff and is led by Director Jacob Warren (PhD, MBA). All services, resources, training, and program participation are provided free of charge to communities, healthcare facilities, and stakeholders; the business model is grant-dependent rather than commercial, with no fees, subscriptions, or productized revenue.

Name

Center for Rural Health

Legal name

Center for Rural Health

Website

https://ruralhealth.und.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Center for Rural Health, within the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, administers research, quality improvement, policy, and workforce programs serving rural and tribal communities in North Dakota and nationally, funded primarily through federal, state, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Healthcare Research and Policy Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Critical Access & Rural Hospitals (HLAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Rural health services
• Health workforce development
• Community health needs assessment
• Tribal aging research
• Critical access hospital quality

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Forks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary funding from Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, including grants for the Rural Health Information Hub ($15 million five-year grant), Flex Program, and other rural health initiatives.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation for programs like the BUILD Grants Program ($3.26 million total distributed to communities).
3. State Funding: State Office of Rural Health funding through North Dakota state government partnerships for healthcare workforce, hospital support, and community health initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Rural Health (CRH) operates as a university-based research, evaluation, and technical assistance center that connects resources and knowledge to strengthen the health of people in rural and tribal communities. It delivers free, grant-funded services including policy-relevant research, program evaluation, community health needs assessments, statewide quality improvement coordination for Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics, workforce development programs (such as Scrubs Camps/Academies and loan repayment support), policy analysis, and the federally funded Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) national clearinghouse.

Product overview

The Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences is a multi-faceted organization offering a portfolio of programs and services designed to strengthen the health of people in rural and tribal communities. The organization operates a core set of programmatic offerings including Research and Evaluation services (policy-relevant research, community-based participatory research, tribal participatory research), Quality programs (coordinating CAH Quality Network and Rural Health Clinic Network), Public Health initiatives (including the Dakota Conference), and Policy work at state, regional, and national levels. Key national programs include the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), National Resource Center on Native American Aging, and Rural Health Research Gateway. Workforce development is served through R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academies, HIPAA Training, and the In-A-Box educational program. Direct community support includes the Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation BUILD Grants, Community Health Needs Assessments, and the North Dakota Qualified Service Provider Hub. The Flex Program, Small Hospital Improvement Program, and State Office of Rural Health provide operational support to rural healthcare facilities. Behavioral health services include the Behavioral Health Bridge website and Project ECHO teleconsultation. The organization administers these programs across state, regional, and national levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dakota Conference on Rural Health: Annual conference for healthcare professionals, educators, and students to share strategies for building and sustaining healthy communities in North Dakota.
• Rural Health Research Gateway
• National Resource Center on Native American Aging
• North Dakota CAH Quality Network
• R-COOL-Health Scrubs Program
• North Dakota Qualified Service Provider Hub

Products and services

• Research and Evaluation Research and evaluation services supporting rural and tribal communities, including policy-relevant research, community-based participatory research, tribal participatory research, and program/system evaluation, presented at conferences and published as fact sheets, policy briefs, reports, and journal articles.
• Quality Program Coordination of statewide Critical Access Hospital quality improvement, including shared best practices, tools, resources, grant distribution, and data collection for benchmarking.
• Public Health Program Partnership building, statistical data collection, and technical assistance on accreditation, grant writing, needs assessments, and community engagement for North Dakota's public health mission.
• Informing Policy Policy support at state, regional, tribal, and national levels through impact studies, analysis of proposed changes, and policy-focused publications and resources for rural and tribal health.
• North Dakota CAH Quality Network Statewide quality improvement network supporting all 36 North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals, with shared best practices, tools, Medicare Conditions of Participation assistance, and the North Dakota Behavioral Health Cohort in partnership with Rural Health Innovations.
• Rural Health Clinic Network Statewide network connecting all 53 Rural Health Clinics in North Dakota for sharing best practices, tools, and resources on patient safety and quality of care, including quality benchmarking, HCAHPS data collection, and stroke/cardiac systems of care.
• Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) National federally funded clearinghouse on rural health issues, providing publications, model programs, innovations, funding sources, reports, data visualizations, and toolkits for rural health stakeholders.
• National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) Tribal participatory research and Native elder services program, including the Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders initiative, serving Native American aging populations nationwide.
• Rural Health Research Gateway National clearinghouse providing timely access to research, findings, and publications from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy-funded Rural Health Research Centers, along with dissemination tools.
• Behavioral Health Bridge User-friendly website providing evidence-based information, tips, and resources on mental health topics including COVID-19-related concerns, promoting behavioral health treatment for rural communities.
• Project ECHO Video-based teleconsultation program connecting specialists at academic or specialty hub sites with community-based primary care teams to address health issues in rural communities.
• Community Health Needs Assessment Guided assessment service helping hospitals and healthcare facilities discover community health needs, analyze data, and produce CHNA reports with prioritized needs, with 15-30 CHNAs facilitated per three-year federal cycle since 2011-13.
• North Dakota Qualified Service Provider Hub Education, support, and resources to Qualified Service Providers in North Dakota, including how-to videos and tools that enable individuals to remain in their homes rather than move to care facilities.
• Native Aging in Place Project (Native Elder Service Locator) Resources and online service locator tool supporting Native Elders in remaining in their homes and communities, including aging-in-place support and elder abuse prevention.
• R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camps One-day healthcare career exploration camps hosted in rural North Dakota communities for students in grades 5-12, featuring hands-on activities led by local healthcare professionals, with 14,319+ students reached since 2009.
• R-COOL-Health Scrubs Academy Four-day immersive healthcare career camp on the UND campus for grades 6-8 students, featuring hands-on activities and HIPAA certification.
• HIPAA Training Free HIPAA training and certification provided to North Dakota middle and high school students or instructors through Scrubs Camps and Scrubs Academies.
• In-A-Box Program Educational resource program lending hands-on materials including bones, muscles, brain, dentistry, ear, eyes, guts, and nutrition boxes to educators serving grades 4-12.
• Flex Program (Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program) Federal Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program administered by CRH, assisting rural hospitals to stabilize and sustain their local healthcare infrastructure and awarding recognition such as the Flex Quality Reporting Award.
• Small Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) Federal program helping small rural hospitals purchase equipment and software to improve billing and claims processing, data reporting, and patient care.
• State Office of Rural Health Federal-state partnership helping rural communities build healthcare services through collaborations and initiatives, providing technical assistance, grant writing support, and program coordination across North Dakota.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program (BUILD Grants) Grant program administered by CRH in partnership with the BCBSND Caring Foundation, distributing funds to North Dakota communities to address social determinants of health and build healthier rural communities, with $3.26 million distributed since 2001.
• Dakota Conference on Rural Health Annual multi-day conference providing opportunities for healthcare professionals, educators, and students to share strategies for building and sustaining healthy rural North Dakota communities, entering its 40th year in 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,319+ students introduced to healthcare careers through Scrubs Programs since 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Rural Policy Research InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on RHIhub initiative, providing policy research and analysis for rural health issues nationally.
• NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health AnalysismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on RHIhub initiative, providing rural health data analysis and research support.
• North Dakota Primary Care OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency offering loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals serving in rural and underserved areas. 113 healthcare professionals currently serving under these programs.
• North Dakota Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health DivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program, providing teleconsultation services and training for primary care providers treating children with behavioral health conditions.
• Sanford HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in development of Behavioral Health Bridge website, contributing research expertise and clinical knowledge for mental health resources serving rural communities.
• American Medical Student Association (AMSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of annual Primary Care Week events with UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, promoting primary care careers to medical students.
• National Rural Health Association (NRHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff serve on national policy-relevant boards and committees. CRH recognized as indispensable tool for improving rural health nationally.
• National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff participate in national policy boards and committees related to rural health policy and programs.
• Rural Health InnovationsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner on North Dakota Behavioral Health Cohort, providing guidance to Critical Access Hospitals on addressing behavioral health concerns in their communities through a virtual three-year cohort program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH): NOSORH is the membership association of all 50 State Offices of Rural Health. CRH itself houses the North Dakota SORH, making NOSORH the closest structural peer in terms of mission, federal funding relationship, and member services to State Office staff.
• Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI): RUPRI is a university-based policy research organization that conducts rural health policy analysis. CRH is a formal collaborator on RHIhub with RUPRI, and the two are structurally comparable in producing policy-relevant research for rural stakeholders.
• National Rural Health Association (NRHA): NRHA is a national nonprofit membership organization focused on rural health policy, advocacy, and education. Comparable to CRH because it serves overlapping rural healthcare stakeholder audiences through policy, advocacy, conferences, and resource dissemination at the national level.
• NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis: NORC's Walsh Center produces rural health research and data analysis and is a formal RHIhub collaborator. It is comparable to CRH in providing rural health research, evaluation, and policy support at the national level.
• National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC): NARHC represents Rural Health Clinics nationally, analogous to how CRH coordinates North Dakota's 53 RHCs through the RHC Network. Comparable in serving RHC operators with policy advocacy, technical assistance, and resource sharing.
• WWAMI Rural Health Research Center: WWAMI RHRC is one of the federally funded Rural Health Research Centers whose outputs are surfaced through the Rural Health Research Gateway (operated by CRH). Comparable as a university-based rural health research center producing policy-relevant findings for federal stakeholders.
• Stratis Health: Stratis Health is a Minnesota-based nonprofit Quality Improvement Organization serving rural providers. Comparable to CRH in delivering quality improvement technical assistance, CAH support, and community health needs assessments across a multi-state rural footprint.
• National Indian Health Board (NIHB): NIHB advocates for tribal health at the federal level. CRH's National Resource Center on Native American Aging addresses Native aging specifically, making NIHB a peer in the broader tribal health policy and services space with overlapping audience of tribes and tribal-serving organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Chartis Center for Rural Health: Chartis produces the annual Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals ranking and publishes rural health performance analytics. CRH's CAH Quality Network serves all 36 ND CAHs that Chartis ranks, making Chartis a comparable performance benchmarking presence in the rural CAH ecosystem.
• Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP/HRSA): FORHP is the federal grant-making entity that funds many of CRH's core programs, including RHIhub, Flex, and SORH. It is comparable as the funding/coordinating authority on rural health policy, though it operates at the federal regulator level rather than as a service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRuralHealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRuralHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centerforruralhealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Rural Health