August 19, 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.

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.

Join 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 you through the core elements of an emergency preparedness plan.

Through this webinar, you will:

• Understand and learn how to 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

Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your critical access hospital with life-saving knowledge from our experts.

Cost: Free

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

Click Here to Register

August 14, 2024

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

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

August 14, 2024

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

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for an insightful presentation on “Transforming Emergency Department Culture for Organizational Success: The Vital Role of an Involved Medical Director.”

This session will tackle:

• the pain points faced by rural EDs,
• the attributes of a successful Medical Director, and
• strategies for fostering a positive culture.

Wapiti’s experts, Kim Herrmann and Jen Lloyd, will share their extensive experience in healthcare staffing and operations and discuss transforming ED culture and provide actionable insights.

• 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.

In addition, Dr. Ameen Taleb and Theresa Braudt from Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital will share their experiences and the impact of a positive ED culture.

• 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: Thursday, September 12, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CT

Click Here to Register

August 14, 2024

Elevate Your Nursing Leadership: NRHA’s Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program, September 11

Did you know the average shelf life of skills is less than 5 years? For nursing executives, it’s critical to continuously develop and refine essential skills.

Enhance your leadership capabilities with NRHA’s Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program, designed by rural hospital CNOs for rural hospital CNOs.

Join Sydney Grant and SuLynn Mester as they share their extensive experience in rural healthcare leadership. Sydney, with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and a key role in program development, and SuLynn, a seasoned CNO Program Leader, will provide valuable insights into the program’s creation, development, and growth.

CNO program participants saw a 40% overall confidence boost, with improvements in leadership (39%), operations (43%), finance (65%), and clinical skills (29%).

Discover how this program and certification can empower you to drive meaningful change in rural healthcare and help you to:

• Strengthen leadership and management skills
• Improve clinical decision-making and patient care
• Foster team collaboration and operational efficiency
• Navigate the unique challenges of rural healthcare

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

August 14, 2024

Automation’s Role in Safety, Security, and Savings: Two-Part Series, September 10 and September 17

Join NRHA for this informative series to gain valuable insights from experienced rural hospital pharmacists on how automated dispensing systems can transform your healthcare facility’s safety, security, and financial performance. In this two-part series, discover how updating an automated dispensing system (ADS)

• Improved patient safety,
• Reduced drug diversion, and
• Boosted financial performance in two hospitals.

Using case studies, Jeremy Garrett, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Services at Weatherford Regional Hospital, and Susan Ritter, DPh, Owner/Manager of Quality Rx Consulting, will demonstrate how an integrated system:

• Enhanced reporting,
• Swiftly addressed safety concerns and diversion, and
• Improved inventory control and billing accuracy.

Jeremy brings extensive experience overseeing hospital pharmacy operations and 340B programs, while Susan specializes in rural hospital consulting and antimicrobial stewardship.

In Part 1, attendees will:

• Understand how an automated dispensing system enhances patient safety through reduced medication errors and real-time monitoring.
• Identify strategies to detect and prevent drug diversion.

In Part 2, attendees will:

• Learn how to use combined electronic health records and automated dispensing system reports to improve inventory control and billing accuracy.
• Understand ways an ADS can increase efficiencies to reduce overall costs.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and improve your hospital’s operations with practical, real-world examples and expert guidance.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, September 10, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CT and Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Click Here to Register

August 14, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Elevate Your Leadership – NRHA’s Rural Hospital CEO & CMO Certification Programs, September 5

Did you know the average shelf life of skills is less than 5 years? For executives, it’s critical to continuously develop and refine essential skills. Discover how NRHA’s Rural Hospital Certification Programs can transform your leadership abilities and boost your confidence.

Join Sydney Grant and Bill Auxier as they discuss the comprehensive benefits of these programs and understand how these certifications can empower you to drive meaningful change in rural healthcare.

Participants in the CEO program reported a 34% overall confidence boost, with significant gains in

• Leadership – 24%
• Operations – 31%
• Finance – 39%
• Clinical skills – 25%

Similarly, CMO program participants experienced:

• Overall confidence increase – 42%
• Enhanced leadership skills – 28%
• Operations – 63%
• Clinical 33%
• Financial skills 74%

In this session, you will learn how to:

• Enhance financial management skills
• Streamline operational efficiency
• Develop robust leadership strategies
• Improve clinical decision-making

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, September 5, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

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

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

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

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