What is the RHIC Mission?
The mission of the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) is to improve and expand interprofessional education, training, and deployment of future health care providers, especially for those committed to serving rural populations. The RHIC also will be an economic engine for west-central Indiana through the development of health care-related jobs and a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization in Terre Haute.
Who are the RHIC Partners?
- Primary Members
- City of Terre Haute (The City)
- Hamilton Center, Inc.
- Indiana State University (ISU)
- Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM)
- Ivy Tech Community College Wabash Valley (Ivy Tech)
- Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation (THEDC)
- Union Hospital and its Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health (UH)
- Supporting Members
- Indiana Area Health Education Center (IN-AHEC)
- Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA)
- Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center (VPCHC)
When was the RHIC formed?
The RHIC was created in September 2008 and formally became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, approved by the IRS, on December 9, 2009.
Why was the RHIC formed?
The RHIC partners formally joined together to respond to the current and worsening health care worker shortages. In addition to addressing workforce needs, the development of the collaborative will result in neighborhood revitalization and economic development, including physical infrastructure build-out, business expansion and attraction, and the increase of rural health care services, training, and research.
What are the core initiatives of the RHIC?
RHIC initiatives include three main areas of focus. These initiatives are proceeding in an overlapping manner to accelerate progress:
- Education. Through the RHIC Interprofessional Education (IPE) Committee, the Partners are conducting an integrated assessment of their health education programs. They are cataloging existing programs and identifying where there are gaps in training and where there are ideal opportunities for integration. As a result of this process, the RHIC Partners are developing new programs and providing inter-campus opportunities for students, educators and professionals. One early and critical initiative is the collaborative RHIC Simulation Center where students from multiple health care professions learn together in a hands-on, simulated clinical environment. The partners secured a federal grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration to assist with implementation of this Center.
- Economic Development. A central goal of the RHIC is to foster economic development opportunities in Terre Haute by expanding existing companies located in the region and attracting emerging companies. The RHIC partners organized a Business Forum in fall 2010 to facilitate this effort and plan to build further from this foundation. In addition, an enhanced business incubation and acceleration program is being explored.
- Facilities and Neighborhood Planning. This area of focus includes the following components:
- Enhancing Anchor Facilities. This effort focuses on developing anchor facilities to include development of new and expanded facilities for education, such as through expansion of the Landsbaum Center for Health Education, and to collaboratively house the growing health care education programs of ISU, IUSOM-TH, UH and Ivy Tech.
- Neighborhood Development. This initiative focuses on revitalization of the area between the UH and ISU campuses, commonly referred to as the "RHIC District." The Partners are working with redevelopment and design experts to identify appropriate locations for commercial property, housing, "green" spaces, and learning centers, based on comprehensive utility mapping and optimal vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow.
- Strengthening and Connecting the Collaborative. This work will enhance and sustain the RHIC, including through new ventures and urban redevelopment throughout the area. Strengthening the connectivity of the collaborative through innovative approaches will make the city a more livable community and help shape future development.
How will the RHIC initiatives be supported?
The RHIC Partners have each contributed to initial organization and operational costs for the RHIC. In addition, the RHIC partners are pursuing investments at the federal, state, and local levels, and through the private sector as appropriate.
Will the RHIC include additional participants?
Yes. The expectation is that the RHIC will continue to evolve and expand through the involvement of stakeholders at a variety of levels.
What are the expected results?
The RHIC represents a unique opportunity to align the resources and strategic directions of several community institutions to address a grand challenge – improving health care in rural Indiana and beyond. At the same time, the combined efforts will spawn neighborhood revitalization and economic development progress throughout the geographic area hosting the initiative.
Terre Haute is poised to become the site of interprofessional, rural-focused health care training and research as well as an expanding constellation of associated mixed-use commercial and residential properties.
The RHIC will make critical contributions to the health and economic vitality of the local community, the region, and the state. The Partners expect nothing less than a transformation lasting for generations.
How to obtain additional information?
For more information, please visit the RHIC website at www.TheRHIC.org or contact the RHIC Executive Director, Sarah Snider, by email at mcrhscs@uhhg.org or by phone at 724-594-4218.