Delta health systems implementation program - applicant organization information: sparta community hospital district (schd), 818 e broadway, ST

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded $350,000 to Sparta Community Hospital District on September 1, 2026, under the Delta Health Systems Implementation Program (CFDA 93.619) to assess and modernize its electronic health record system.

Sparta Community Hospital District, a critical access district hospital operating six rural health clinics in St. Sparta, Illinois, will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its current EHR environment. The assessment will identify interoperability challenges, system limitations, and workflow inefficiencies arising from the organization's multiple separate EHR systems, which fragment patient data and increase administrative burden. The evaluation will focus on optimizing clinical workflows, enhancing data security, and integrating AI-driven decision support to improve patient outcomes.

In Year 2 of the project, Sparta will implement recommendations from the assessment. Implementation activities include enhancing financial sustainability through improved revenue cycle management and automated billing, expanding services through more efficient workflows and improved care coordination, and strengthening specialty and behavioral health services. The organization will deploy data analytics to identify care gaps, improve chronic disease management, advance preventative care, and address community health needs. These enhancements aim to streamline operations, reduce clinician burnout, and support sustainable growth in rural healthcare delivery.

The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. Place of performance is Illinois.

Sparta, IL 62286, critical access district hospital with 6 rural health clinics, spartahospital.COM project director -susan gutjahr, director of HIT, 618-443-1467