Category: NRHA

Bill Aims to Keep Labor, Delivery Open in Underserved Areas

October 10, 2024

Bill Aims to Keep Labor, Delivery Open in Underserved Areas

An emergency roadside childbirth after the closing of the maternity unit at the nearest hospital is stoking health care worries in a sparsely populated Pennsylvania county.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) supports a new bill that would amend federal law to enhance financial support for rural and safety net hospitals providing maternity, labor, and delivery services to vulnerable population.

Additionally, HHS says Medicaid insurers can do more to improve maternal health care access, and NRHA’s Government Affairs team recently produced a policy brief on rural maternal health.

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An Updated Model of rural Hospital Financial Distress – North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

October 10, 2024

An Updated Model of rural Hospital Financial Distress – North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

From January 2005 to May 2024, 219 rural hospitals closed or converted to a facility without inpatient services. Hospital financial distress is often cited as a main contributor to closure and thus is a key target for policies aimed to protect rural health care access.

Researchers from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center created a model for predicting rural hospital closures in 2017. This update for 2024 was published last week in the Journal of Rural Health.

Click Here to Read Article

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

September 18, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

Join this session, “Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities”, featuring Hancock Health and Ohio County Family Care as they share practical experiences and applications for overcoming challenges and addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

  • Melissa Rumple, RN< CMCN, Clinical Coordinator for Chronic Care Management at Hancock Health brings over 14 years of nursing experience, including securing grants to improve cardiovascular health.
  • Connie Embrey, RN, BSN, Population Health Nurse at Ohio County Family Care, has 24 years of experience in Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management and Chronic Care Management, ensuring her patients receive comprehensive and effective care.

Together, the presenters will unpack best practices for advancing community health and addressing inequities in access to care, economic opportunity and education.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, October 10, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

In this session, Matt West, Vice President of Population Health Solutions at i2i Population Health, will explore how a population health platform can address some of the most significant challenges facing rural healthcare providers today.

Matt brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare technology and will demonstrate how innovative solutions can:

  • streamline manual reporting
  • increase reimbursement revenues and
  • effectively manage ACO/HIE data

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand key challenges
  • Explore innovative solutions
  • Enhance organizational participation

This webinar is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical strategies that can help your organization thrive in the Value-Based Care landscape.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, October 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

In this two-part webinar series, discover how Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS) can significantly:

  • Enhance patient safety
  • Prevent drug diversion
  • Improve financial outcomes in rural hospitals

Jeremy Garrett, DPh, director of Pharmacy Services at Weatherford Regional Hospital, and Susan Ritter, DPh, Owner/Manager of Quality Rx Consulting, bring their extensive expertise to demonstrate the real-world impact of ADS on rural healthcare.

Part 1:

  • Enhance Patient Safety
  • See how ADS technology reduces medication errors, safeguarding patients with real-time monitoring.
  • Prevent Drug Diversion
  • Learn effective strategies to combat drug diversion, a critical issue in hospital pharmacies.

Part 2:

  • Optimize Operations
  • Discover how integrating ADS with EHRs improves inventory control and billing accuracy, crucial for rural hospitals.
  • Achieve Cost Savings
  • Understand how streamlining your pharmacy operations with ADS can lead to substantial financial improvements, helping you do more with limited resources.

Consider joining this webinar to gain practical insights from experts who have successfully implemented ADS in rural settings, ensuring your hospital stays ahead in safety, efficiency, and cost management.

Cost: Free

When:

Part 1 – Tuesday, October 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Part 2 – Tuesday, October 8, 1:00 -2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinars on CEO, CMO, CNO Certification Programs

August 29, 2024

NRHA Webinars on CEO, CMO, CNO Certification Programs

“Elevate Your Leadership: NRHA’s Rural Hospital CEO & CMO Certification Programs”

When: Wednesday, September 5, 1:00 p.m. CT

Join a National Rural Health Association (NRHA) webinar and learn how to elevate your leadership through NRHA’s CEO and CMO certification programs.

Learn to enhance financial management skills, streamline operational efficiency and more.

Click Here to Register for CEO, CMO Webinar

 

“Elevate Your Nursing Leadership: NRHA’s Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program”

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2:00 p.m. CT

Join this webinar to learn how to elevate your nursing leadership through the NRHA CNO Certification Program.

Enhance your leadership capabilities with this program designed by rural hospital CNOs for rural hospital CNOs.

Click Here to Register for CNO Webinar

Rural Leaders See Hospitals Closing Without Robust Broadband

August 29, 2024

Rural Leaders See Hospitals Closing Without Robust Broadband

Rural representatives at the federal level have raised concerns regarding the role of inadequate broadband access in the closure of rural hospitals.

Additionally, health care bankruptcies are down but financial challenges remain, and academic systems are stepping up to acquire rural and community hospitals and smaller health systems that are struggling to push their operating margins back into the black.

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Rural Pregnancy Health Risks Grow as Care Options Disappear

August 29, 2024

Rural Pregnancy Health Risks Grow as Care Options Disappear

Out of the 36 percent of U.S. counties designated as maternity care deserts, 61 percent are rural. “we’re seeing a trend… especially accelerated through the pandemic, of hospitals closing OB and labor and delivery units,” says NRHA’s Alexa McKinley. “Access is going to continue to decline unless drastic measures are taken.” Additionally, as rural maternity wards shutter, urban ones struggle as well.

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Tech Giants Help Small Hospitals Defend Against Cyberattacks

August 23, 2024

Tech Giants Help Small Hospitals Defend Against Cyberattacks

Keeping up with the latest cybersecurity tools can be expensive, but it’s crucial for hospitals big and small. They’ve recently become prime targets for malicious hackers because of valuable patient data that can be sold or held for ransom.

That’s why Google and Microsoft, in collaboration with NRHA and other stakeholders, will offer one year of free security assessments and discounts of up to 75 percent on cybersecurity tools for small and rural hospitals.

Confirm your eligibility and sign up for the cybersecurity program here.

New Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Articles on Mental Health Access Barriers, More

August 23, 2024

New Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Articles on Mental Health Access Barriers, More

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Journal of Rural Health recently published new articles on the following topics:

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