About Pennsylvania
Office of Rural Health

A Federal, State, and The Pennsylvania
State University Partnership

The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) was formed in 1991 as a partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and The Pennsylvania State University. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation funded through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The state offices of rural health are charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, and networking; partnership development; and assisting in the recruitment and retention of health care providers.

At the Pennsylvania State University, PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development.

PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, agricultural health & safety, oral health, and community & economic development.

Our Mission

To enhance the health status of rural Pennsylvanians and ensure that rural residents have access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Our Vision

To be recognized as the premier rural leadership and information organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to be one of the most effective state offices of rural health in the nation.

Our Services: Technical Assistance, Advocacy, Outreach, and Applied Research

The services of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health include:

  • Over 800 technical assistance encounters each year to individuals, organizations, and communities regarding funding opportunities, program development, referrals, rural health information, and more
  • Conferences and workshops on issues relevant to rural health care providers
  • Rural health advocacy in the state and nationwide
  • Administration of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility program and other small rural hospital programs
  • Applied research in the field of Rural Health
  • Compliance assistance to agricultural producers on safe pesticide use
  • Pennsylvania Rural Health magazine and social media outreach

Our State and Federal Partners

PORH collaborates with many public and private health agencies including the following:

State Partnerships

Federal Partnerships

Other Partnerships