Rural health network development planning grant program - organization name: eagle view community health system address: 1204 HWY 164 e, oquawka, IL 61469 legislative aims: aim #1: achieve efficiencies

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Eagle View Community Health System $100,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Rural Healthcare Services Programs (CFDA 93.912), specifically the Rural Health Network Development Planning program. The award supports establishment of the West Central Illinois Rural Health Network in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health and OSF Holy Family Medical Center. Deliverables include conducting a comprehensive community health needs assessment, implementing a regional care coordination model to enhance referral pathways and patient navigation, expanding telehealth infrastructure to increase remote healthcare access, and establishing a data-sharing system to improve communication and continuity of care among providers. The initiative addresses provider shortages, uncoordinated care, and geographic barriers to healthcare access in medically underserved rural communities. Eagle View Community Health System, a Federally Qualified Health Center based in Oquawka, Illinois, operates the network across Henderson County, Warren County, and surrounding rural areas designated as Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Community (MUC). The award period runs through June 30, 2027, with place of performance at Oquawka, Illinois. The Rural Health Network Development Planning program provides one-year planning grants to assist entities without a history of formal collaborative efforts in developing integrated rural health care networks.

Aim #2: expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes. Focus areas: care coordination, workforce development, telehealth expansion, and data sharing. Funding preference: eagle view community health system qualifies for a funding preference as our service area is designated as a health professional shortage area (hpsa) and a medically underserved community (MUC). Entity type: federally qualified health center (fqhc) website: WWW.eagleviewhealth.ORG proposed service region: illinois - henderson county, warren county, and surrounding rural areas. Network name: west central illinois rural health network project description: eagle view community health system, in partnership with the departments of public health and OSF holy family medical center, proposes the establishment of a rural health network to improve healthcare efficiency and expand access to quality services in medically underserved rural communities. This initiative addresses significant challenges, including provider shortages, uncoordinated care, and barriers to healthcare access due to geographic isolation and limited resources. The project will focus on streamlining healthcare operations through collaborative partnerships, reducing duplication of services, and improving patient outcomes. Key activities include conducting a comprehensive community health needs assessment to identify service gaps, implementing a regional care coordination model to enhance referral pathways and patient navigation, expanding telehealth infrastructure to increase remote healthcare access, and establishing a data-sharing system to improve communication and continuity of care among providers. By enhancing coordination and efficiency, this initiative will ensure that rural residents, including low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals, receive timely and integrated healthcare. Through strategic collaboration, eagle view and its partners will strengthen the rural healthcare system and create a sustainable model for improving healthcare delivery in underserved areas.