NRHA Webinar: Unveiling Clarity: A Strategic Blueprint for Hospital Pricing Optimization, September 18

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Unveiling Clarity: A Strategic Blueprint for Hospital Pricing Optimization 

Clear and accessible pricing information is crucial for rural healthcare providers navigating high-deductible plans. Join Randi Brantner, Vice President of Operations at Hospital Pricing Services, for a presentation on developing effective pricing strategies.

With over 20 years of experience in healthcare financial operations, Randi will share valuable insights on enhancing price transparency, fostering competitiveness, and ensuring appropriate reimbursement.

Webinar Objectives:

  • Outline revenue stream pricing categories and associated considerations.
  • Identify effective pricing tactics for each revenue stream.
  • Develop a logical pricing methodology based on cost analysis, reimbursement rates, and peer pricing data.

Key Takeaways:

  • Improve financial sustainability through strategic pricing.
  • Enhance patient satisfaction with transparent pricing.
  • Boost competitiveness and appropriate reimbursement.

This session is essential for rural healthcare executives looking to improve their pricing strategies and financial performance.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, September 18, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Transforming Emergency Department Culture for Organizational Success: The Vital Role of an Involved Medical Director, September 12

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Transforming Emergency Department Culture for Organizational Success: The Vital Role of an Involved Medical Director, September 12

This session will tackle:

  • The pain points faced by rural EDs
  • The attributes of a successful Medical Director
  • Strategies for fostering a positive culture, and
  • The impact of a well-cultivated ED culture on inpatient census and overall organizational success.

Wapiti‘s experts, Kim Herrmann and Jen Lloyd, will share their extensive experience in healthcare staffing and operations. Kim, Chief Executive Officer, has over 20 years of experience in healthcare staffing and has been instrumental in developing business across multiple regions. Jen, Vice President of Operations, brings over 20 years of administrative and operational expertise, focusing on Critical Access Hospitals and Clinics.

They will discuss transforming ED culture and provide actionable insights. Dr. Ameen Taleb and Theresa Braudt from Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital will share their experiences and the impact of a positive ED culture. Dr. Taleb, Medical Director of the Emergency Department, is a board-certified ED Physician committed to improving rural healthcare, and Theresa, the Administrator, enhances hospital operations and patient care.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Understanding rural ED challenges.
  • Attributes of an effective Medical Director.
  • Strategies for fostering a positive ED culture.
  • Impact of ED culture on inpatient census and organizational success.

Gain valuable insights and strategies for transforming your Emergency Department culture through a dynamic panel discussion with experts from Wapiti and Gundersen.

Cost: Free

When: September 12, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Planning and Executing Strategic Facility Investments, August 28

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Planning and Executing Strategic Facility Investments, August 28

Join Brian Haapala, CEO of Stroudwater Capital Partners, who has over two decades of experience in planning and financing over $1.5 billion in facility projects.

This session will delve into the sources of funding available for rural health investments and discuss best practices for accessing affordable and sustainable funding for Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health organizations.

From determining the best funding sources for your organization to reviewing USDA funding processes and requirements for low-interest loans and grants, attendees will gain a strong understanding of how to bring their planned facility investments to life.

Key Takeaways:

  • Identifying the best funding sources for rural health investments
  • Understanding USDA funding processes
  • Accessing affordable and sustainable funding
  • Bringing planned facility investments to life

Gain valuable insights and strategies for successfully funding and implementing your strategic facilities plan through this informative session led by an expert in rural healthcare finance.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, August 28, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Evaluating Facilities Needs Through a Strategic Lens, August 27

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Evaluating Facilities Needs Through a Strategic Lens, August 27

Join this webinar on evaluating facilities needs through a strategic lens. John Downes, MBA, Principal at Stroudwater Associate, brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare facilities planning. He has led strategic plans and market assessments and is a nationally recognized speaker.

As the need for rural healthcare investment grows, organizations face challenges in advancing facility projects that redefine their market position. Incremental renovations often fall short, making robust master facility plans crucial yet vulnerable to inertia.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to overcome these hurdles, guiding facilities to revive and propel their strategic master facility plans forward.

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to explore how to:

  • Create holistic assessments of current facility states
  • Identify areas for improvement and growth opportunities
  • Craft resilient future-proof plans aligned with shifting healthcare landscapes

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies for navigating the complexities of healthcare facility planning effectively.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, August 27, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Operationalizing a Just Culture in Rural Healthcare, August 22

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Operationalizing a Just Culture in Rural Healthcare, August 22

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for a webinar on Operationalizing a Just Culture in Rural Healthcare.

Michele Back, Senior Quality Director of Quality and Patient Safety at Ovation Healthcare, brings extensive experience as a healthcare leader and consultant. Certified in Lean Healthcare and a Master Trainer for TeamSTEPPS, Michele collaborates with clients to develop evidence-based solutions for achieving high-quality, cost-effective care.

In this webinar, attendees will explore how to:

  • Cultivate a comprehensive Patient Safety Program
  • Manage human behavior to prevent errors
  • Redesign systems to reduce risks
  • Create a strong culture of safety
  • Integrate Just Culture principles into daily processes

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies for enhancing patient safety and operationalizing a Just Culture in your rural healthcare organization.

NRHA Webinar: Emergency Preparedness – The Benefits of a Comprehensive Plan, August 21

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Emergency Preparedness – The Benefits of a Comprehensive Plan, August 21

A robust emergency preparedness plan is fundamental for any rural healthcare provider, especially as the lessons learned from the COVID era are starting to fade. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your critical access hospital with life-saving knowledge from experts. This essential webinar will equip you with the knowledge you need to ensure the lights stay on and patients are safe regardless of the scenario.

Erik Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, and Ron Coulter, Life Safety & Physical Environment Specialist at Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), as they guide attendees through the core elements of an emergency preparedness plan.

Objectives:

  • Learn to understand and apply the core components of emergency preparedness in a rural healthcare setting, including:
    • Planning
    • Procedures
    • Communication
    • Training
    • Testing
  • Learn the elements of a strong Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
    • Engaging with the local or state emergency planning commission
    • Understanding vulnerabilities within your community
    • Staying vigilant in the post-COVID era
  • Gain a clear picture of how day-to-day decisions at the executive level affect emergency preparedness
  • Establish the framework for practical and effective drills

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, August 21, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar – Strategic Planning: Best Practices for Rural Healthcare, August 15

August 13, 2024

NRHA Webinar – Strategic Planning: Best Practices for Rural Healthcare, August 15

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for a session on developing a strategic plan that helps rural organizations navigate the future.

John Downes, MBA, Principal at Stroudwater Associates, brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare facilities planning. He has led strategic plans and market assessments and is a nationally recognized speaker.

This session will explore crafting a robust strategy that aligns vision, expertise, values, and analytics to empower your organization and influence the healthcare landscape.

Learning Objectives:

  • Engage internal team members as active contributors to your strategic plan
  • Ground planning efforts in the realities of local, regional, and national healthcare markets
  • Transition delivery and payment systems for unified progress
  • Prioritize immediate actions to address current challenges
  • Establish metrics to measure progress and adjust strategies as needed

Join this webinar to gain insights and tools needed to thrive in the evolving rural healthcare environment.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, August 15, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

FREE 60 Minute Live Webinar – Introduction to Medicare Cost Report Compliance, September 10

August 12, 2024

FREE 60 Minute Live Webinar – Introduction to Medicare Cost Report Compliance, September 10

This introduction to the Medicare Cost Report Webinar will touch on the following topics:

  • What providers are required to file a Medicare cost report and what forms to use
  • What are the cost reporting due dates
  • Compliance related to the cost report
  • Q&A

This webinar has been approved for 1 continuing education unit by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance for AIHC Certified Professionals.

Cost:  FREE

Click Here to Register Now

Rural Medical Center to End ‘Facility Fee’ for Obstetrics

August 12, 2024

Rural Medical Center to End ‘Facility Fee’ for Obstetrics

With anticipated additional state funding specifically for obstetric and neonatal services, Meadville Medical Center in Pennsylvania will drop facility fees for OB patients.

Recent passage of the state budget means an estimated $39 mission will be invested in rural hospitals, with a $7 million increase in Medicaid supplemental payments.

Click Here to find out how maternal health deserts in rural Kansas and across the country lead to hardships for mothers, communities, and providers.

Apply to Become a Rural Health Fellow Leader

August 12, 2024

Apply to Become a Rural Health Fellow Leader

The National Rural Health Administration’s (NRHA’s) Rural Health Fellows program is a yearlong, intensive training program that develops leaders who can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America.

Each year, NRHA selects 10 to 15 highly motivated individuals who have proven their dedication to improving the health of rural Americans through their educational or professional experience.

The goal of the Rural Health Fellows program is to educate and develop a network of diverse rural readers that will step forward to serv in key positions in the association, affiliated advocacy groups, and local and state legislative bodies with health equity as a main focus.

What a Rural Health Fellow Can Expect:

  • Meet in person, three times throughout the year to undergo intensive leadership and advocacy training
  • Take part in monthly conference calls to supplement their training
  • Receive updates on legislative and regulatory concerns that impact rural health
  • Participate in mentorship program with current members of NRHA’s board of Trustees.

Applicant Program Requirements

  • Must be NRHA members for at least one year, before applying
  • Must demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the health of all people residing in rural America through the provision of equitable health care services
  • Must be willing and able to commit to monthly conference calls as part of the program and complete a project as a member of an Action Project Team
  • Must have a sponsor to support travel/lodging expenses to attend three NRHA meetings
  • Must commit to attending all Rural Health Fellows training sessions

Cost: No program fee for participation, however, applicants must have a sponsor (employer, corporate or self) responsible for all travel and lodging costs to attend the three training sessions.

Apply By Thursday, September 12th

Click Here to Learn More

Click Here to Apply