Category: NRHA

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

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

NRHA Launches New Go-To Resource for Rural Health Execs

July 25, 2024

NRHA Launches New Go-To Resource for Rural Health Execs

The National Rural Health Administration has announced the launch of NRHASC.com, a new platform designed to provide rural health care executives with essential, rural proven resources for specific needs.

Developed by rural health care experts, this resource hub is focused exclusively on helping busy rural health care executives find solutions to the unique challenges they face.

This platform offers comprehensive coverage from policy updates to practical tools all in one easy-to-navigate site.

Click Here to go to NRHASC.com

NRHA Searching for 2025 Atlanta Annual Conference Speakers

July 25, 2024

NRHA Searching for 2025 Atlanta Annual Conference Speakers

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2025 Annual Rural Health Conference and Rural Hospital Innovation Summit, the nation’s premier events celebrating rural health.

Each year, more than 200 individuals present over 85 concurrent educational sessions, 20 research papers, and up to 100 research and educational posters at these annual events, constituting the nation’s largest, most exclusive rural health conference.

Any person with an interest in rural health is invited to submit session proposals by Aug. 15 or original research by Jan. 9 for presentation during the 2025 conference.

Learn More or Submit a proposal

Free Workshop: Suicide Prevention for Rural Health Providers

July 25, 2024

Free Workshop: Suicide Prevention for Rural Health Providers

Rural service providers face unique challenges regarding the availability and access to mental health services and resources – including for youth and Indigenous Tribal communities.

To address these challenges, with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence has partnered with SafeSide Prevention to provide a workshop on suicide prevention training for service providers in rural communities at no cost to you!

Register to unlock your membership with SafeSide Prevention, which includes the following:

  • Online Community of Practice
    • You connect with SafeSide faculty and members worldwide who are passionate about:
      • suicide prevention
      • sharing resources
      • asking questions
      • and growing together
  • Live Office Hours
    • Join informal, monthly video chats hosted by SafeSide staff where you can ask questions and share experiences with others worldwide.
  • Tools and Refreshers
    • Ongoing education videos, resources and tools are at your fingertips to help you apply suicide prevention best practices in your work.

No matter your role, you will leave this workshop with actionable skills and a clear framework to help you feel more confident as you work to prevent suicide for those you serve.

Cost: Free

Choose a session to join

  • August 1, 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
  • August 15, 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Click Here to Register

Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health Now Available Online

July 12, 2024

Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health Now Available Online

The latest issue of NRHA’s Journal of Rural Health is now available online featuring new articles on topics including:

  • Rural veterans’ health care access
  • Rural research methods
  • COVID-19 vaccination
  • Health systems and outcomes
  • Mental health treatment access
  • Perinatal and maternal health
  • Rural and urban disparities in substance use
  • SUD affecting sexual minority populations
  • Nursing home closures
  • Access to post-acute care
  • Long-term services in rural areas

Click Here to access Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health

Bringing Hospital Care Home: A Revolution in Rural Healthcare

July 12, 2024

Bringing Hospital Care Home: A Revolution in Rural Healthcare

An innovative concept that started in urban centers is making its way into the heart of rural America; hospital-at-home (H@H) care.

The idea stemmed from the realization that patients in rural areas often face significant barriers to accessing regular treatment.

H@H bridges the access gap by offering high-quality care at the patient’s home (or nursing home or assisted living facility). Not entirely new, the concept has gained traction due to advancements in telemedicine and mobile health technologies.

Crescent Regional Hospital in Lancaster, Texas, has installed its first “holobox”, a 3D, life-sized, highly advanced holographic display that allows doctors to teleport to the hospital for real-time, holographic consults with patients. Additionally, the hospital at home movement continues to gain traction in rural areas across the country.

There is no question that H@H improves patient outcomes and satisfaction while reducing cost. Although the implementation process is more complex than imagined and may seem dauting for a community hospital with limited resources, the model is beneficial for the hospital and patients.

Click Here to Learn More