# GREAT Health Workforce Retention Technology Grant (Surgical Robots)

This grant, under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), provides up to $2,000,000 per award to rural Georgia hospitals for the acquisition and implementation of robotic surgical technology, aiming to expand access, retain surgical workforce, and support current and future GME programs. All funds must be fully expended by September 30, 2027. Only technology-ready rural hospitals with a history or plan for surgical robotics and compliance with outlined clinical, facility, and administrative requirements may be considered.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: GRANT
- Issued by: Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) (Georgia)
- Posted: 2026-06-15
- Application due: 2026-07-15
- Funding: $2.0M
- Eligible applicants: Government Hospital, Nonprofit Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, CMS-certified Rural Health Clinic
- How to apply: GREAT Health Application Portal (https://portal.greathealth.georgia.gov/)
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://greathealth.georgia.gov/document/document/workforce-technologygreat-health-funding-opportunityannouncementfinalpdf/download

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants are rural hospitals in Georgia (serving one of 126 rural/partially rural counties under the GREAT Health Program definition), with a CMS and Joint Commission or DNV-accredited operating room. Hospitals must (1) have submitted a signed Letter of Intent (LOI) for participation in the AHEAD model; (2) have completed the required Rural Hospital Technical Assessment by May 29, 2026; (3) submit a Financial Assessment by June 23, 2026; (4) have at least one employed or contracted surgeon who is (or will be) trained and certified on the proposed equipment; and (5) demonstrate readiness, board/medical staff commitment, minimum surgical volume, and technological fit.

## Requirements

Applicants must provide: (1) Proof of AHEAD Model LOI; (2) Completed Rural Hospital Technical Assessment (by May 29, 2026); (3) Financial Assessment submission (by June 23, 2026); (4) Vendor selection for robotic equipment meeting listed clinical and technical requirements; (5) Letter of support from Board Chair, CEO, and medical staff leadership; (6) Documentation of minimum surgical case volume (at least 3-5/week); (7) Implementation timeline and training plan for surgeons; (8) Evidence of being technology-ready and facility accreditation; (9) Robotics steering committee plan; (10) Compliance with Georgia Certificate of Need program as applicable.

## Required attachments

- Proof of AHEAD Model LOI submission
- Completed Technical Assessment
- Completed Financial Assessment
- Letter of support signed by Board Chair, CEO, and medical staff leadership
- Vendor documentation for proposed surgical robotics equipment
- Evidence of facility accreditation

## Application package and source documents

- [GA - 2026 - Funding Opportunities (Source listing page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/6efcb8ae-6f3f-4b99-af06-6f8bf8ad83f8/file) — official: https://www.gha.org/Advocacy/Rural-Healthcare/Rural-Health-Transformation-Program/Funding-Opportunities
- [GA - 2026 - GREAT Health Funding Opportunity Announcement: Initiative 5 - Workforce Retention Technology Grant for Rural Georgia Hospitals (Primary FOA (Workforce Retention Technology - Surgical Robots))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/a4a33733-356e-4969-bc09-7dda793d6f27/file) (primary) — official: https://greathealth.georgia.gov/document/document/workforce-technologygreat-health-funding-opportunityannouncementfinalpdf/download
- [GA - 2026 - Find Funding Opportunities (Find Funding Opportunities page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/5168a635-7d62-45b6-8b35-c04d991dca69/file) — official: https://greathealth.georgia.gov/find-funding-opportunities
- [GA - 2026 - Year 1 GREAT Health Opportunities for Hospitals Project (Year 1 Funding Opportunities Summary)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/473e5fbb-37ac-496f-a49b-2b44e3e2c757/file) — official: https://47734119.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/47734119/Hospital%20Projects%20Spreadsheet-%206.10.2026.pdf
- [GA - 2026 - Georgia RHTP (GREAT Health) Initiative 5: Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Innovations in Rural Georgia (Workforce Retention Strategy Summary)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/96a2ab32-b35e-411e-8725-ad5dee342032/file) — official: https://www.gha.org/Portals/0/Documents/Initiatives/Rural%20Healthcare/RHTP%20summary%20-%20Workforce%20Retention%20Strategy.pdf?ver=IDzoAgRXhJDJV-biNCnLXw%3d%3d

More Georgia RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ga (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ga.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/great-health-workforce-retention-technology-grant-surgical-robots--107a82a930 — data as of 2026-08-11.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.