INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and the Indiana University School of Medicine are launching a first-of-its-kind readiness program aimed at upgrading emergency obstetric and pediatric care across rural communities in Indiana.
Announced by Governor Mike Braun, the OPEration Ready initiative—which stands for obstetrics, pediatrics, and emergency medical service—pledges $30 million over five years to train rural emergency room healthcare providers on critical standards of care and provide funding for updated medical equipment.
The program represents one of 12 state initiatives aimed at expanding access and improving quality of life across rural Indiana.
Closing Gaps in Rural Healthcare Outcomes
The partnership leverages the IU School of Medicine’s statewide clinical network, expertise, and nine-campus presence to build essential infrastructure aimed at reducing preventable deaths, eliminating delayed treatment, and addressing unequal health outcomes for rural families.
Data from the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights the urgent need for emergency room readiness:
- Pediatric Care: Up to 28.1% of child deaths in ERs can be prevented with high pediatric readiness standards.
- Maternal Care: A 2025 analysis of nearly 14.8 million births revealed that maternal mortality is approximately 30% higher in counties lacking adequate healthcare access.
The core objective of OPEration Ready is ensuring that rural emergency rooms and pre-hospital emergency services have the necessary training and tools to deliver the right care at the right time to pregnant women, postpartum mothers, infants, and children.
Program Leadership and Statewide Assessment
The foundation of the initiative relies on the National Pediatric Readiness Project assessment, administered in the state by Indiana Emergency Medical Services for Children, to evaluate ER readiness even at facilities without dedicated pediatric units.
OPEration Ready will be led by three key figures at the IU School of Medicine:
- Dr. Lindsey Haut (Primary Investigator) — Program director for Indiana Emergency Medical Services for Children and assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine and pediatrics, leading initiatives to advance pediatric emergency care.
- Dr. Erin Cleary — Assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and high-risk pregnancy expert, leading efforts to elevate obstetric emergency readiness.
- Nathan Alves — Interim vice chair of research and research director for the Department of Emergency Medicine, serving as the strategic lead on the grant.
Leaders React to the Announcement
“Better rural healthcare infrastructure is essential to ensuring that every Hoosier has access to the care they need,” said Governor Mike Braun. “This groundbreaking initiative will strengthen maternal and pediatric care in rural emergency departments across the state.”
“Every Hoosier mother and child deserves access to high-quality, lifesaving emergency care close to home,” said Indiana University President Pamela Whitten. “By leveraging the IU School of Medicine’s statewide clinical expertise and nine-campus presence, this partnership will strengthen emergency readiness and help ensure more mothers and babies in rural communities receive the care they deserve.”
“We are excited to partner with IU on this initiative, building on a proven successful record in assessing pediatric readiness,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “This program is another innovative way IDOH is working to identify and address gaps in care to provide better outcomes for Indiana’s moms and babies through community partnerships.”
Funding and Inter-Agency Support
In its first year, $11.2 million will be allocated directly to the IU School of Medicine.
The agreement is financed through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which provided nearly $207 million in first-year federal funding to boost health outcomes in rural Indiana. The program is jointly administered by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Indiana Department of Health at Gov. Braun’s direction.
In addition, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will supply supportive resources for training and equipment, while helping establish emergency protocols to rapidly transport patients to specialized facilities when higher levels of care are required.
For more information on health initiatives, visit the Indiana Department of Health at www.health.in.gov or follow them on Facebook.
