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ECD/HOPE has found that many development opportunities exist within the health care sector of the rural economy. Through the Emerging Markets Partnership, ECD/HOPE has invested in a variety of health care initiatives to address issues related to infrastructure and the rural workforce needs. For more information about ECD's infrastructure work contact Ray Williams at rwilliams@ecd.org. For more information about ECD's health care workforce initiatives, contact Ed Sivak at esivak@ecd.org.
Through its EMP contract, the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, (MPHCA), brokered technical assistance to seven Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) conducting operations in the Mississippi Delta. Technical assistance activities included space planning, market and financial trend analysis and grant writing assistance. As a result of the TA, MPHCA, ECD and the health centers learned that significant resources were needed to upgrade deteriorating physical plants and to expand operations. Based on the findings, ECD was able to develop a health care lending program that leveraged the Community Facilities Loan Guaranty Program and met the needs of the health care centers. At the end of 2004, ECD had approved financing for six projects totaling over $7 million.
Louisiana Primary Care Association
In Louisiana, ECD brokered a relationship between MPHCA and the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) to replicate the project. Similar to the MPHCA project, Louisiana Delta community health centers were able to quantify their primary capital needs and acquire a mixture of financing and grants to address the needs. Notably, two of the centers that received grant writing assistance in Louisiana received over $1 million in federal funds to enhance their programs.
Mississippi State Board of Community and Junior Colleges
ECD partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Bower Foundation and the Mississippi State Board of Community and Junior Colleges to fund the development of a two-year degree program and a continuing education program for Medical billers. The project emerged from the fact that improper medical coding cost Mississippi Health Care providers $30 million a year. Co-Lin Community College piloted the project at its Natchez and Wesson campuses. During the pilot phase, 48 people received continuing education training and 80 enrolled in the degree program. In the spring of 2005, Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College launched medical records courses and trained 41 residents.
Career Pathways - Southern Good Faith Fund
Since 2002, ECD has provided funding to support the Public Policy Program of the Southern Good Faith Fund (SGFF). One of the SGFF's primary projects included the piloting of a Career Pathways Program (Pathways). Through Pathways, SGFF worked with SEARK College in Pine Bluff to develop a training program that prepared students for entry level jobs with career ladders that would allow for upward mobility. One of the sectors addressed was the sector of nursing. The Public Policy Program was instrumental in securing $8 million in state Temporary Assistance for Needy Family resources for replicating the Pathways program in two year colleges across the state.
Community Development
ECD/HOPE has found that many development opportunities exist within the health care sector of the rural economy. Through the Emerging Markets Partnership, ECD/HOPE has invested in a variety of health care initiatives to address issues related to infrastructure and the rural workforce needs. For more information about ECD's infrastructure work contact Ray Williams at rwilliams@ecd.org. For more information about ECD's health care workforce initiatives, contact Ed Sivak at esivak@ecd.org.
Infrastructure - State Primary Care Associations
Mississippi Primary Health Care AssociationThrough its EMP contract, the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, (MPHCA), brokered technical assistance to seven Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) conducting operations in the Mississippi Delta. Technical assistance activities included space planning, market and financial trend analysis and grant writing assistance. As a result of the TA, MPHCA, ECD and the health centers learned that significant resources were needed to upgrade deteriorating physical plants and to expand operations. Based on the findings, ECD was able to develop a health care lending program that leveraged the Community Facilities Loan Guaranty Program and met the needs of the health care centers. At the end of 2004, ECD had approved financing for six projects totaling over $7 million.
Louisiana Primary Care Association
In Louisiana, ECD brokered a relationship between MPHCA and the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) to replicate the project. Similar to the MPHCA project, Louisiana Delta community health centers were able to quantify their primary capital needs and acquire a mixture of financing and grants to address the needs. Notably, two of the centers that received grant writing assistance in Louisiana received over $1 million in federal funds to enhance their programs.
Rural Health Care Workforce Development Initiatives
In the 2004 Commercial Lending Report ECD found that, on average, the jobs assisted through ECD's health care lending program paid over $12.00 an hour and offered health benefits. Additionally, conversations with health care professionals in the Delta revealed that there was a need for more nurses, medical records experts and therapy assistants. In response to the findings, ECD invested in a couple of different workforce initiatives.Mississippi State Board of Community and Junior Colleges
ECD partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Bower Foundation and the Mississippi State Board of Community and Junior Colleges to fund the development of a two-year degree program and a continuing education program for Medical billers. The project emerged from the fact that improper medical coding cost Mississippi Health Care providers $30 million a year. Co-Lin Community College piloted the project at its Natchez and Wesson campuses. During the pilot phase, 48 people received continuing education training and 80 enrolled in the degree program. In the spring of 2005, Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College launched medical records courses and trained 41 residents.
Career Pathways - Southern Good Faith Fund
Since 2002, ECD has provided funding to support the Public Policy Program of the Southern Good Faith Fund (SGFF). One of the SGFF's primary projects included the piloting of a Career Pathways Program (Pathways). Through Pathways, SGFF worked with SEARK College in Pine Bluff to develop a training program that prepared students for entry level jobs with career ladders that would allow for upward mobility. One of the sectors addressed was the sector of nursing. The Public Policy Program was instrumental in securing $8 million in state Temporary Assistance for Needy Family resources for replicating the Pathways program in two year colleges across the state.
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