Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (AzFLEX)

Summary

Since 1999, AzFLEX has provided technical assistance, training, and information resources to Arizona's 17 federally designated Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), 55 Rural Health Clinics (32 CAH-affiliated), FQHCs, tribal clinics, trauma centers, EMS, and first responders. Program focus areas: enhancing healthcare quality through national benchmarking, improving financial and operational performance, community engagement through health needs assessments, and supporting eligible rural hospitals in seeking CAH designation.

Eligibility

Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics (including CAH-affiliated), Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Service and Tribal-operated clinics, and county health departments in rural Arizona. To qualify as a Critical Access Hospital: fewer than 25 inpatient beds, located 35+ miles from another facility, has a 24/7 Emergency Department, and maintains an average patient stay under 96 hours.

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