Tool from UND will help rural health offices across the nation track activities

David L. Dodds

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

8-2011

Campus Unit

University of North Dakota

Abstract

A Data management tool developed at the University of North Dakota will be offered to state offices of rural health (SORHs) in all 50 states through a new non-exclusive license agreement with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH). TruServe will allow those organizations to track services to clients, chart progress, and map activities.

NOSORH (headquartered in Sterling Heights, Mich.) is dedicated to supporting the work of all fifty SORH to improve rural health around the nation. “We know that it is critical we be able to measure, demonstrate and validate the enormous impact of the programs and services they provide to rural communities,” notes NOSORH Director Teryl Eisinger. “We are excited that we can offer this tried and tested, top-shelf performance measures tool to all of our members.”

The online tracking system allows organizations to track activities such as information dissemination, presentations, publications, and services. It can also monitor time, budget, programs, goals, and more. The information can then be used to create custom reports, maps, and charts that detail the impact of programs at the community level. TruServe is customizable for each organization, allows users to view the activities of other users, and eliminates the need for mapping and graphing software.

“I am extremely happy for Marlene Miller (associate director, UND Center for Rural Health) and the Center for Rural Health. Our license provides maximum access to the TruServe platform for virtually every Rural Health Office around the country,” said Michael Moore, UND Associate Vice President for IP Commercialization & Economic Development.

“Requirements to track, report, and evaluate program impacts are prevalent in the non-profit world. Our data management system does just that and facilitates improved communication. There are significant advantages to partnering with NOSORH and being able to demonstrate the use of federal and state dollars by individual states and collectively for the nation’s key rural health programs. TruServe saves time and shows impact,” said Miller.

About NOSORH

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) was established in 1995 to assist State Offices of Rural Health in their efforts to improve access to, and the quality of, health care for America’s 61 million rural citizens.

All 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health (SORH). Although they vary in terms of size, scope, organization and services/resources provided, each SORH helps rural communities in their state build effective healthcare delivery systems. NOSORH enhances the capacity of SORHs to do this by supporting the development of state and community rural health leaders; creating and facilitating state, regional and national partnerships that foster information sharing and spur rural health-related programs and activities; and helping communities create a healthy rural America by enhancing access to quality healthcare services.

About the University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, a college town of 50,000 on the Red River of the North separating North Dakota and Minnesota. The campus includes 223 buildings (over 6 million square feet under roof) on 550 acres.

The University of North Dakota is the state’s most comprehensive intensive research university and the primary center for professional education and training. Since 2001, the University has received $890.6 million for sponsored programs from internal and external sources. In fiscal year 2010, UND received $143.37 million for projects in areas such as neuroscience, Unmanned Aerial Systems, vaccines, advanced electronics, nanotechnology, high-tech coatings, and alternative fuels. UND’s total economic impact on the state and region is more than $1 billion a year.

Founded by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before statehood, UND was intended to be, and has remained, a university with a strong liberal arts foundation surrounded by a variety of professional and specialized programs. UND is one of only 47 public universities in the nation with both accredited graduate schools of law and medicine. It is admired for its spacious, beautiful campus and extensive resources. The University has earned an international reputation for its academic and research programs.

UND enrolls 14,194 students (fall 2010) in 218 fields of study from baccalaureate through doctoral and professional degrees.

Share

COinS