HCPF selects organizations for Rural Health Transformation Program funding

Targeted Investments in Rural Health Infrastructure

The HCPF program prioritizes the modernization of rural health care technology and the expansion of community-based services. A significant portion of the funding focuses on connecting physical and behavioral health services through integrated care models. This approach aims to reduce barriers to treatment by bringing services directly to patients, utilizing mobile clinics and community paramedicine programs.

Infrastructure upgrades include the modernization of electronic health records and the implementation of shared technology platforms. These systems are intended to facilitate coordination between rural hospitals, health centers, and regional partners, allowing for the efficient sharing of workforce resources and clinical expertise.

Emergency Care and Telehealth Expansion

A core component of the RHTP is the enhancement of emergency and trauma care. The Colorado Whole Blood Coalition received $5,048,348 to expand access to lifesaving blood transfusions for patients in transit. This project aims to train rural EMS providers to deliver blood to critically ill or injured patients across a network spanning 39 Colorado counties.

Telehealth services are also receiving a major boost to bridge the gap in specialty care. Awarded projects include the implementation of tele-ICU and telehospitalist services, as well as remote patient monitoring systems. These tools are designed to connect rural patients and local providers with specialists, allowing for high-level care without the need for long-distance travel.

Workforce Development and Maternal Health

To address staffing shortages, the program funds recruitment, training, and retention strategies for the rural health workforce. These efforts include the development of career pathways and professional development opportunities for local health care workers.

Maternal and pediatric care initiatives also represent a key focus area. Funding supports high-risk pregnancy monitoring, rural obstetric emergency readiness, and postpartum home visiting programs. Organizations such as the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative and Four Corners Ob/Gyn are among those tasked with helping patients access maternal health services and improving pediatric behavioral health outcomes in underserved regions.

RHTP Funding Recipients

The program has awarded funds to numerous organizations across the state to implement these community-specific health solutions. Notable recipients include:

• Colorado Community Managed Care Network (d/b/a Carina Health Network): $5,443,867
• East Phillips County Hospital: $5,858,333
• Colorado Whole Blood Coalition: $5,048,348
• Denver Recovery Group, LLC: $4,939,342
• Gunnison Valley Hospital: $4,527,669
• Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center: $3,564,484
• Lincoln Health: $3,375,541
• Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado: $3,117,288
• Haxtun Hospital District: $2,972,520
• Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council: $2,923,943
• Centennial Mental Health Center, Inc: $2,265,024
• High Plains Community Health Center, Incorporated: $2,114,713
• County of Logan: $2,096,141
• City of Yuma Ambulance Service: $1,914,671
• Cheyenne County (dba Plains to Peaks RETAC): $1,938,921
• Children’s Hospital Colorado: $1,897,643
• Colorado Mountain College (CMC): $1,867,538
• Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium: $1,420,182
• Epifluence LLC – Eastern Plains: $1,230,739
• Eastern Rio Blanco County Health Service District: $1,204,379

Additional awards were distributed to a variety of smaller regional providers and community organizations, including the Alliance Against Domestic Abuse, Delta County Ambulance District, and several Epifluence LLC regional branches, to ensure that the funding reaches a diverse range of rural and frontier communities.