Office of Rural Health.

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Department of Health shall establish an Office of Rural Health. The Office of Rural Health shall coordinate its activities with the area health education center network established pursuant to s. 381.0402 and with any appropriate research and policy development centers within universities that have state-approved medical schools. The Office of Rural Health may enter into a formal relationship with any center that designates the office as an affiliate of the center.

(2) PURPOSE.—The Office of Rural Health shall actively foster the provision of health care services in rural areas and serve as a catalyst for improved health services to citizens in rural areas of the state.

(3) GENERAL FUNCTIONS.—The office shall:

(a) Integrate policies related to physician workforce, hospitals, public health, and state regulatory functions.

(b) Propose solutions to problems affecting health care delivery in rural areas.

(c) Seek grant funds from foundations and the Federal Government.

(4) COORDINATION.—The office shall:

(a) Identify federal and state rural health programs and provide technical assistance to rural providers regarding participation in such programs.

(b) Act as a clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating information on rural health care issues, research findings on rural health care, and innovative approaches to the delivery of health care in rural areas.

(c) Foster the creation of regional health care systems that promote cooperation, rather than competition.

(d) Coordinate the department’s rural health care activities, programs, and policies.

(e) Design initiatives to improve access to emergency medical services in rural areas.

(f) Assume responsibility for state coordination of the Rural Hospital Transition Grant Program and other federal rural health care programs.

(5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The office shall:

(a) Help rural health care providers obtain health care practitioners by promoting the location and relocation of health care practitioners in rural areas.

(b) Provide technical assistance to hospitals, community and migrant health centers, and other health care providers.

(c) Design strategies to improve health care workforce recruitment and placement programs.

(6) RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS AND SPECIAL STUDIES.—The office shall:

(a) Conduct policy and research studies.

(b) Conduct health status studies of rural residents.

(c) Collect relevant data on rural health care issues for use in department policy development.