WHO WE ARE

Every community should have the opportunity to be healthy, with access to care needed in an emergency and the capacity to offer preventative and well care for kids and adults. But it is often difficult for Americans living in rural communities to access quality, affordable health care. The Center for Optimizing Rural Health (CORH) provides technical assistance to help rural hospitals deliver the care that’s needed most with the available resources. CORH is working with hospitals, communities, partners, and other stakeholders to design and implement evidence-based, unique, and sustainable solutions to remove the barriers that prevent many communities from accessing quality health care.

CORH knows every rural community faces a unique set of challenges and concerns, and we are committed to identifying and prioritizing the specific needs of each through technical assessment, community engagement, and technology integration. By understanding each community and hospital’s needs and leveraging the most promising best practices from across the country, communities can find the best health care mix to serve their residents the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Led by Dr. Nancy Dickey, a former president of the American Medical Association with 40 years of experience in rural primary care, CORH is part of the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI) and is generously supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).