Contents of this area:

Health Systems Development       Community-Based & Rural Health Program       Critical Access Hospitals       Rural Health Clinics

Click the following link for the Health Systems Development Application.

About Health Systems Development

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health (BPCRH) offers health systems development services to health care facilities, organizations, and other providers across the state. These services are being offered to communities within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for the purpose of expanding or sustaining access to primary and preventive health care services. 

The following assistance is now available through the Bureau’s Health Systems Development Program:

• community development services that include but are not limited to small and large group facilitation, data driven and community-based needs assessments, and strategic planning and development
• health sector economic impact studies
• enhanced demographic scans, mapping services, and health service market analyses
• feasibility studies
• practice management services
• grant proposal development consultation and resource development technical support

Communities may apply for services by completing a Health Systems Development Request Form for technical assistance.  To be eligible for these services a request must be health related, the physical location for the project must be within a HPSA, and the organization must have the ability to describe a primary health care need.  Requests for technical assistance will be accepted throughout the year via email, fax and mail.  Priority will be placed on projects that strive to address the healthcare needs of the uninsured and/or improve effectiveness or capacity of the area’s safety net.

The Health Systems Development component of the Bureau grew out of the Bureau’s strategic planning process that occurred in Fall 2002 with extensive community input. The resulting strategic plan includes a vision that all Louisiana residents, regardless of their ability to pay, have easy access to quality health care services within a reasonable distance to their home. The Bureau’s Health Systems Development services directly address the strategic goal of increasing the clinical capacity of local health systems to provide health care services within their communities.

For questions concerning Health Systems Development Services, contact Tracie Ingram at Tracie.Ingram@la.gov.