Baronner Rural Innovation
and Transformation (BRIT) Award

Baronner Rural Innovation
and Transformation (BRIT) Award
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health established the Baronner Rural Innovation and Transformation (BRIT) Award to recognize rural hospitals, rural health systems, and Rural Health Clinics that have implemented a robust and sustainable initiative to significantly impact the health status of the communities they serve. The award is presented during Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, which encompasses National Rural Health Day.

The award honors the legacy of Larry Baronner (Ret.), who served as the first Rural Health Systems Manager and Deputy Director at the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). Mr. Baronner was a leading rural health care advocate, applying his diverse and extensive background to serve as an invaluable resource for health care transformation in Pennsylvania and across the nation. His understanding and focus on quality reporting, data, and population health created the foundation for PORH’s vision and leadership for rural hospitals and clinics.

Award Criteria

Award recipients must demonstrate commitment to promoting effective change in the health care marketplace based on one or more of the following criteria:

- Exploring new approaches to delivering rural health care;
- Exploring new approaches to paying for rural health care;
- Improving the quality of rural health care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other rural hospitals and/or clinics;
- Collaborating with other organizations to develop innovative solutions to significant rural health care problems; and
- Advancing the understanding of engaging consumers to make informed decisions about their care.

Eligibility

This award will be given to one small rural hospital, rural health system or Rural Health Clinic in Pennsylvania that meets the specified award criteria.

Nominating Procedure

The Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health will receive the nominations and forward them to the Awards Committee for review and selection. Nominations may be made by any health care provider, organization, association or individual. Hospital leadership may nominate their facility.

The nomination shall consist of:

1. Completed application form (see below).
2. A one-page summary of how the hospital, health system or Rural Health Clinic meets the criteria. Please attach any supporting material.
3. One letter of support.

Selection Committee

The recipient of this award shall be selected by an Awards Committee established by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.

The Award

The recipient will be presented with the award in the hospital or clinic’s community during Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, which encompasses National Rural Health Day, and showcased in an issue of Pennsylvania Rural Health.