Ohio University, The Health Collaborative, and statewide partners unite to expand healthcare access and workforce development in Ohio’s 73 non-urban counties.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Health Collaborative (THC) is partnering with Ohio University (OU) on a groundbreaking statewide initiative to strengthen Ohio’s rural healthcare workforce, following a $10 million award to OU through Ohio’s Rural Health Transformation Program. This landmark investment is designed to improve rural health outcomes and expand access to healthcare services across the State by addressing critical workforce shortages.
As a critical leader of Health Workforce Ohio, THC will work alongside OU and a coalition of statewide partners to develop and implement data-driven solutions that support healthcare workforce growth, training, and retention in rural communities. Planned strategies focus on expanding health care career exploration programs for students, creating and growing proven programs that lead directly to healthcare employment, increasing apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities, strengthening telehealth and digital health training, reducing barriers to entering healthcare careers and supporting upskilling of current healthcare employees.
“The challenges facing Ohio’s rural healthcare workforce require collaboration across sectors, regions, and partners,” said Hope Arthur, Executive Director, Workforce Innovation at THC. “Health Workforce Ohio represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring together healthcare providers, educators, workforce leaders, and community organizations to create sustainable solutions that improve access to care and strengthen the health of rural communities across the State.”
The Health Collaborative will develop statewide assets and provide technical assistance, program management, and statewide coordination support for the Rural Health Transformation workforce initiative, with a focus on workforce pipeline development, recruitment and retention strategies, career navigation support, and project implementation. The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers will chair the Steering Committee, which includes 11 statewide organizations committed to advancing rural healthcare workforce sol
Rural Health Transformation Program
The state of Ohio’s Rural Health Transformation Program provides one-time funding to support long-term improvements in rural healthcare systems. As a result of this federal funding, Ohio’s related statewide efforts will focus on five priorities: preventative health and chronic disease management, sustainable access to care, workforce development, innovative care delivery, and health technology innovation.
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $10,000,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
The Health Collaborative
The Health Collaborative unites partners across healthcare, government, and the community to improve health outcomes across Southwest Ohio.