Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
DEVELOPING NEW RHCs
PHASE I: NEED ASSESSMENT AND FEASIBILITY
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Identify potential locations
- Under-served rural areas
- Consider ability to expand or protect market share
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Project utilization
- Office visits
- Ancillary services on-site
- Inpatient/outpatient admissions at host hospital
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Project Market Share
- Consider ambulatory visit rates
- Consider existing physician practices and use/migration patterns
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Identify strategic issues
- Potential to expand market share/number of covered lives
- Potential target for competitors - market protection
- Ability to provide other services within/adjacent to RHC - mental health, rehabilitation, nursing facility residents, etc.
- Impact on providers in area
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Operational issues
- Availability of facility space
- Availability of personnel
- Coordination with host hospital
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Project financial impact
- Payer mix
- Volume - visits and ancillary services
- Staffing, supplies, utilities, and other operating cost
- Incremental revenue from inpatient and outpatient services
- Overhead allocation
PHASE II: IMPLEMENTATION
- Identify facility space and initiate renovations
- Recruit staff
- Develop policies and procedures
- Notify State of intent to implement and obtain certification packet for RHC
- Implement operating systems
- Identify facility space and initiate renovations
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Implement operating systems
- Billing
- Accounts receivable/payable
- Patient tracking/case management system
- Train office staff
- Orientate hospital staff
- Develop marketing materials
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Develop marketing plan
- Senior centers
- Nursing home staff training
- Lectures
- Networking with other community providers
- Physician
- Schedule certification visit for RHC
PHASE III: MANAGEMENT
- Full management agreement - manage daily clinic operations
- Management assist agreement - periodic site visits and phone consultation
