The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare program provides funding for innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients. Patients connected to emergency medical care, receive the latest medical therapies available to patients in remote areas, plus state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel is also provided.
Last spring, the Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program surveyed healthcare facilities in their seven state funding area that includes Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wyoming to learn more about community health, capital, and workforce needs.
A large percentage of responding facilities reported that radiology equipment, particularly fixed and portable X-ray equipment, C-arm equipment, and fluoroscopy are the top capital priority. However, due to lower reimbursement rates, replacing this equipment is often deferred.
To meet the needs in the seven states, The Helmsley Charitable Trust is sponsoring the “Radiology Equipment Initiative” to provide funding for qualifying rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and non-profit clinics to purchase new radiology equipment in the seven states. A maximum grant amount has not yet been specified since a facility may request funding for more than one modality of equipment.
Facilities may apply for equipment that needs replacing or equipment that they do not already have but can justify adding. Eligible applicants can include CAHs, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other nonprofit 501(c) (3) or tax exempt (city or country owned) clinics. All applicants will need to complete a Request for Proposal (RFP).
The initial RFP submitted must describe the organization, the area served, radiology services provided, plus a description of the present radiology equipment The RFP is due October 1, 2018. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals not later than December1, 2018. Full proposals are due January 2, 2019 with grantees to be selected February 2019.
Go to rhc@helmsleytrust.org for more information. To view the program website, go to https://helmsleytrust.org/radiology-initiative.