Data Corner
Over the past two years, the Minnesota Flex Program worked with sub-grantee Stratis Health to implement a Learning and Action Network that supported 20 critical access hospitals with the information and coaching needed to create systems for Social Drivers of Health and/or Health-Related Social Needs screening and referrals. We're highlighting the experiences of two Minnesota CAHs below.
Stevens Community Medical Center is a critical access hospital in the city of Morris. Quality Manager Mindy Anderson partnered with Angie Hasbrouck from Horizon Public Health (serving Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens and Traverse counties) to launch a screening and referral program for health-related social needs, starting with food insecurity. Patients were screened for the health related social needs and those who were screened positive were referred to Horizon Public Health and connected to local food distribution.
Since February 2023, 94 patients have been referred, and 20–30 attend Horizon Public Health's monthly food distributions regularly. To provide additional support outside Horizon Public Health, the Stevens County Food Shelf began opening during those times to make it easier for participants to access additional food, reducing transportation barriers. Participants have expressed appreciation, especially for the fresh produce. One individual shared that the monthly bag of potatoes helps him prepare and freeze meals, lowering his grocery costs.
Perham Health is a critical access hospital in Perham that also worked through community partnerships and found success in using a phased approach as they developed their screening and referral process for social determinants of health.
In 2023, they launched a pilot to screen adult patients who had been admitted with congestive heart failure, choosing this group because of their high readmission rates. Perham’s goal was to understand how social factors and system barriers might affect readmissions.
Once the staff was familiar with the process for screening in the electronic health record, every admitted patient was screened; they decided not to limit their effort to a pilot group. Patients were screened for food insecurity, housing, transportation, utilities, and safety. Social workers then followed up with high-risk patients and connected them to community resources. Perham Health also partnered with ELEVATE, a community program that offers social, volunteer, and educational opportunities for adults 50 and older. Patients at risk for social isolation were also referred to ELEVATE, and those with food insecurity receive food boxes at discharge.
Since launching the screening, 95% of eligible patients have been assessed (exceeding their 90% goal), with transportation being identified as the most common barrier. Perham Health continues to monitor the data to better understand how SDOH affects hospital readmissions.
These are just two examples of how critical access hospitals connected with local public health and other community organizations to get started, and quickly grew their screening, referrals, and community connections. Thanks for sharing your stories Stevens Community Medical Center and Perham Health!
Rural Health Advisory Committee Vacancy
The Rural Health Advisory Committee is seeking an Allied Dental Member. The Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) is a statewide forum for rural health interests. The 22-member committee includes licensed health care and higher education professionals, legislative officials and consumers. RHAC advises the Commissioner of Health and leaders in other state agencies on rural health issues. Visit Open Positions Search to apply.
For assistance, please contact healt...@state.mn.us
Community Clinic Grant
The Community Clinic Grants provides funding to support the capacity of eligible organizations to plan, establish or operate clinical services for populations with low income and/or living in rural areas of the state. Fiscal Year 2026 program funding will support clinic efforts to increase or maintain access to health services for the uninsured and underinsured.
More details and link to the online application can be found at Community Clinic Grant.
The application is open now, with applications are due Friday, Nov. 7. Please contact Health.Commun...@state.mn.us with any questions
Mental Health Safety Net Grant
The Mental Health Safety Net Grant provides funding to community mental health centers, clinics or nonprofit community mental health clinics designated as an essential community provider that serve uninsured youth under age 21.
More details and link to the online application can be found at Mental Health Safety Net Grant.
The application is open now. Full applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 5. Please contact health.Safe...@state.mn.us with any questions.
Dental Safety Net Grant
The Dental Safety Net Grant supports eligible dental providers who serve the uninsured. More details and the link to the online application can be found at ORHPC Grants and Funding.
The application is open now. Full applications are due Friday, Nov. 14. Please contact health.Safe...@state.mn.us with any questions.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship Grant and Loan Forgiveness
The Home and Community-Based Services Employee Scholarship Grant and Loan Forgiveness program assist HCBS provider organizations in developing their direct care workforce. Scholarship and loan forgiveness applies to nursing and other health care fields, in courses of study that lead to career advancement within the organization or broader HCBS field.
More details and the link to the online application can be found at Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship Grant and Loan Forgiveness Program.
All applications must be submitted through the ORHPC Online Grants Portal by 4:30 p.m. on Friday Dec. 12.
Stroke Rehab Initiative
The American Heart Association is working on a stroke rehab initiative in Minnesota and is currently recruiting Skilled Nursing Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities to participate. Sites will receive $10,000 and quality improvement support to build/enhance their stroke rehab programs by following published post-acute stroke program standards.
Below is a short video that gives a brief overview of the program, requirements, and benefits. The video is about 10 minutes and can be watched here: MN Stroke Recording
Statewide CHW Survey 2025
The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance is surveying Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Minnesota—including those working as promotores(as), community leaders, or in similar roles across clinics, schools, community organizations, and public health programs. If you are a CHW Supervisor or a representative of an organization that employs CHWs, please complete the Statewide CHW Employer Survey – Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance.
For more information or if you have questions, please email rac...@mnchwalliance.org
Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs
The Flex Monitoring Team, in partnership with Stroudwater Associates, is excited to release a new resource for rural hospitals: Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs - Strategies for Financial Analyses and Considerations for Maintaining Services. Drawing on case studies from previous Stroudwater Associates engagements, this resource details three strategies that may bring a Labor & Delivery program closer to sustainability and prevent unnecessary closures in rural areas. These strategies ensure that Critical Access Hospitals and rural hospitals understand how to properly:
- Allocate costs and statistics in the Medicare Cost Report to maximize the value created by the Labor & Delivery program.
- Evaluate the contribution margin of the program.
- Leverage other opportunities, such as partnerships and family practice obstetricians, to enhance the efficiency of the program.
Office of Emergency Medical Services Seeks Community Grant Reviewers
The Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is seeking volunteers with EMS or related experience to serve as community grant reviewers. Reviewers will read and score up to 10 grant proposals in early November 2025—all done remotely. This grant opportunity provides funding for ambulance service training and staffing in Minnesota.
If you want to make a difference and be a part of the review team, apply by completing the OEMS grant reviewer interest form.
If you have questions about the community reviewer process, please email: Melanie....@state.mn.us
Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment Results
Since the fall of 2023, Critical Access Hospitals in Minnesota have been asked to participate in a survey to report on quality improvement infrastructure and activities, service lines, and related quality measures. This publication provides the 2024 assessment results and includes some comparative 2023 results.
Webinar Series: Demystifying HIV/STI Testing, Treatment, and Prevention
Please join Dr. Nick Lehnertz for a three-part webinar series focused on the latest epidemiologic and clinical aspects of HIV and other STIs, including updated syphilis screening guidelines, the latest on doxy PEP, and an overview of the most current options for HIV PEP and PrEP.
The webinar series is geared towards primary care clinicians who may have limited experience with HIV/STI prevention strategies, screening recommendations, and treatment approaches; however, clinicians who are well-versed in HIV/STI care and management may also be interested in attending. Registration links for the individual sessions are linked here.
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