About Us

The National Center for Rural Health Works was founded in 1998 as an initiative to expand public awareness of the economic importance of health services and to stress healthcare’s critical role in rural development. NCRHW has provided information to help local decision-makers in rural communities to become proactive and intricately involved in planning and supporting their local health systems. The ultimate objective has been to maintain local healthcare services, including critical access hospitals, to result in healthier rural communities and economies.

With the retirement of the founder of the Center Dr. Gerald Doeksen in 2017, the National Center for Rural Health Works was moved from OK State to Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, with longtime advisory board member Ann K. Peton, MPH becoming Director of the center.

Goals of National Center for Rural Health Works:

  • Be the focal point for analysis of the economic impact of selected health policies on rural America
  • Develop tools that clients (states, counties, local communities, hospitals, etc.) can use to measure the economic impact of healthcare services.
  • Develop tools that decision-makers can use to assess the need for new or expanded rural healthcare services in a community
  • Provide training and technical assistance to help clients understand and use these tools and templates.
  • Promote findings, experiences, toolkits, and templates to both health and economic development audiences.

The National Center for Rural Health Works (NCRHW) is funded from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) through a cooperative agreement with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

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Basic economic impact methodology could be applied to many areas

We originally partnered with the NCRHW to conduct economic impact of our new school, but soon realized that the basic economic impact methodology could be applied to many areas. We partnered with both the NCAHD and the NCRHW in our efforts to support our OneHealth initiatives by measuring the economic impact of both veterinarians and primary care physicians throughout our Appalachian region, which was a keystone tool/products that launched many of our other activities.

Jason Johnson,DVM, MS, DACT, Vice President and Dean
Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine

NCRHW is and will continue to be an important voice

The National Center for Rural Health Works is an invaluable resource to the American Hospital Association (AHA) and its 2100 rural hospital members. AHA has collaborated with NCRHW for many years on multiple projects. For example, NCRHW was referenced in our TrendWatch, “Beyond Health Care: The Economic Contribution of Hospitals,” and featured in our two-part webinar series on the “Economic Impact of Rural Hospitals and Health Networks.” NCRHW is and will continue to be an important voice on the economic significance of rural hospitals to the communities they serve.

John Supplitt, Senior Director
American Hospital Directory Constituency Sections

NCRHW now a partner of VCOM

With nearly 60% of our graduates becoming primary care physicians and over 50% practicing in a rural or under-served setting, our school fully appreciates the economic and employment impact our students and schools have upon the nation. With NCRHW now a partner of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, we’ll share with faculty, students and stakeholders NCRHW’s vast resources through our vast education network.

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO , Provost and President
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine