August 6, 2025

Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program Applications Open, Apply by September 11

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program.

NRHA’s Rural Health Fellows Leadership Program is a yearlong training initiative designed to develop a diverse, Interprofessional network of rural health leaders from across the country. The Rural Health Fellows program prepares emerging leaders to champion rural health policy and drive meaningful change in their communities. Fellows gain hands-on experience through leadership development, policy engagement, and collaboration with other rural health professionals.

Each year, NRHA selects 15-20 individuals who will:

• Expand their understanding of rural health policy,
• Build a national network of peers and mentors,
• Strengthen leadership and advocacy skills, and
• Complete a team-based policy project that informs NRHA’s platform.

Applicants must:

• Be an active NRHA member for at least one year prior to applying, and maintain membership throughout the program,
• Demonstrate a commitment to rural health,
• Attend all three in-person sessions:
  • 37^th Rural Health Policy Institute, February 10-12, 2026, Washington, D.C.
  • 49^th Annual Rural Health Conference, May 19-22, 2026, San Diego, CA
  • 38^th Rural Health Policy Institute, February 9-11, 2027, Washington, D.C.
• Participate in monthly virtual sessions,
• Contribute to a team-based project, and
• Be able to cover travel and accommodation expenses

Program Benefits:

• Practical experience in rural health policy and advocacy,
• Creation of a group policy brief,
• Long-term professional connections, and
• Opportunity to shape NRHA’s policy priorities.

Review Timeline:

• Application deadline: Thursday, September 11, 2025
• Notifications sent by: October 2025
• Accepted Fellows must confirm participation within two weeks of acceptance

Program Cost – there is no fee to participate in the program. Travel and accommodations are the responsibility of the Fellow, though limited scholarship support is available.

Click Here to Learn More

Click Here to Apply

August 6, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Building Trust and Retention: Practical Communication Strategies for Rural Health Leaders, August 13

High turnover, disengagement, and strained communication cost rural hospitals time, resources, and patient outcomes. This session goes beyond theory to deliver proven methods you can put into practice immediately.

Jennifer Henry, MBA, has spent nearly a decade helping rural healthcare executives across the Midwest improve retention and team performance. Drawing on real case studies and the Everything DiSC® framework, she will walk you through:

• Identifying hidden communication breakdowns
  • Learn how to uncover subtle patterns that erode trust and morale – before they drive staff out the door.
• Defusing conflict without escalation
  • Get practical scripts and techniques to address tension in a way that preserves relationships and accountability
• Strengthening leadership presence
  • Discover ways to communicate clearly and consistently under pressure, so teams stay aligned during staffing shortages and change.
• Building Psychological Safety
  • See how small shifts in leadership behaviors can create an environment where staff feel safe to speak up and stay engaged.

You will leave with actionable strategies to reduce turnover costs, improve culture, and build a stronger, more resilient workforce in your rural hospital or clinic.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, August 13, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

August 6, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Fixing Employee Health Workflows in Rural Hospitals Without Adding Staff, August 7

In this session learn how Tanner Health redesigned their employee health processes to reduce onboarding delays, improve documentation accuracy, and streamline compliance tracking – without adding staff or costly systems. You’ll walk away with strategies you can apply immediately to improve workforce readiness and reduce risk.

Tami Turner, BSN, RN, brings over 20 years of clinical experience and now leads onboarding and exposure response across Tanner’s rural hospital system. She’s joined by Samantha Boughner, MBA, who manages employee health systems, reduce manual workload, and increase documentation efficiency in real-world settings.

Attendees will:

• Identify the most common breakdowns in onboarding and compliance documentation,
• Learn how to improve tracking accuracy and audit readiness without additional staff, and
• Take home a practical framework that rural hospitals can implement immediately.

This session is built for rural executives, nursing leaders, compliance officers, and medical group managers ready to fix what’s not working and move forward with confidence.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, August 7 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

May 1, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Rural Hospitals are Strengthening Swing Bed Compliance to Secure Reimbursement and Prevent Denials, May 14

Strong documentation and compliance are the foundation of a successful swing bed program. Rural hospitals that get it right secure sustainable reimbursement, avoid costly denials, and maximize the value of their swing bed services. But with shifting Medicare regulations and complex eligibility requirements, how do you ensure your hospital is set up for success?

Join Valorie Clouse, RN, AGNP, FNP, CCM, who has worked extensively with rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) to strengthen swing bed compliance, improve case management, and prevent denials. She has helped rural facilities develop documentation processes that support medical necessity, meet Medicare requirements, and protect financial sustainability.

What You’ll Learn:

• Documentation practices that ensure compliance and prevent denials with their swing beds,
• Medicare’s latest regulations on swing bed eligibility and reimbursement,
• How rural hospitals are securing sustainable revenue and strengthening financial stability with their swing beds,
• Best practices for optimizing swing bed utilization without financial risk

This session will provide rural hospital leaders with clear, practical guidance to navigate swing bed compliance, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen financial sustainability.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, May 14, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to register

April 30, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Rural EMS Staffing in 2025: How Rural Hospitals are Reducing Delays and Strengthening Patient Care, May 8

Rural EMS staffing shortages aren’t ne – but the strategies rural hospitals are using to manage them are evolving fast. In this educational presentation, rural healthcare leaders and EMS experts will share what’s working now, from cross-training clinical staff and building local workforce pipelines to using telehealth and regional collaboration to keep response times down and ensure patient care doesn’t suffer.

After attending this session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify workforce development strategies rural hospitals are using to recruit and retain EMS personnel,
• Apply cross-training and collaborative staffing models to improve response times and ensure continuity of care, and
• Advocate for policy changes and funding to support sustainable EMS staffing in rural communities.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, May 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

March 17, 2025

NRHA Webinar: A 180-Degree Turn in One Year: How a CAH went from the Brink of Closure to Expanding Services

In one year, Monroe County Hospital went from financial instability to expanding services and strengthening its role in the community. This transformation wasn’t the result of new funding or external support – it came from a strategic leadership shift and operational changes that stabilized finances, improved efficiency, and positioned the hospital for long-term success.

In this session, Kerry Trapnell will share the key actions that made this turnaround possible, drawing from his 25 years of experience guiding rural hospitals through financial and operational improvements.

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How Monroe County Hospital pinpointed critical risks and addressed them,
• Key operational and financial changes that led to measurable improvements,
• Challenges the leadership team navigated – and what made the difference, and
• Strategies rural hospitals can apply to strengthen financial sustainability.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register