Small Rural Hospital Improvement Project (SHIP)

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) makes funding available to assist small rural and critical access hospitals to implement requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Indiana State Office of Rural Health provides funding to the Indiana Hospital Association who works with subject matter experts and professional consultants to provide education and training to all eligible hospitals. SHIP-eligible hospitals include rural and critical access hospitals with 49 beds or less.

Indiana currently has 42 participating hospitals!

On July 1, 2019, the Indiana State Office of Rural Health awarded the Indiana Hospital Association a new SHIP grant for the 2019-2023 grant cycle. Compared to past SHIP grants awarded to IHA, this grant cycle features five projects over a four-year timeframe. The five projects are outlined in a cohort learning collaborative model to encourage group sharing and networking opportunities. The focus of the grant cycle includes:

Improving Practices Around Mental Health
Maximizing Reimbursement in the Outpatient Setting
Patient and Family Experience Community Forum
Special Innovation Project: Advancing the Health of Hoosiers in Rural Indiana*
Using Simulation to Promote Patient Safety

Participating hospitals have the opportunity to rotate to a different project each of the four years of the grant period. Hospitals are asked to indicate their interest in each project on an annual application and cohorts are developed based on these choices. *The Special Innovation Project is an additional project offering that runs for the entire length of the grant cycle and provides a deeper examination of quality improvement techniques and best practices around health equity.

For more information about the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Project grant, please email or call (317) 423-7728.

This SHIP grant cycle will end on May 31, 2023. For information on this SHIP grant cycle, please email Laurie Gerdt. For more information about future Small Rural Hospital Improvement Project grants, please email Joyce Fillenwarth with the Indiana Department of Health.