Nevada Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supports the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) under section 1820(g) (3) of the Social Security Act (SSA). The SHIP Program assists eligible hospitals in implementing data system requirements established by the Medicare program hospitals, and improving health care quality and value.

In 2002, the Nevada State Office of Rural Health (SORH) in the Office of Statewide Initiatives based at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) established the Nevada SHIP Program. Over the years, the Nevada SHIP Program has received over $4 million to support 13 rural hospitals.

The purpose of the Nevada SHIP Program is to increase health care access and improve the quality of care for the state's most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, the underinsured, minorities and those with low income.

The Nevada SHIP Program is working towards advancing quality care in our rural communities by providing technical assistance and education opportunities for Nevada's consortium of small rural hospitals in their quality improvement efforts and adaptation to changing payment systems through investments in hardware, software and related training.

For additional information, please contact Laima Etchegoyhen, MPH.