Rural Spotlight

On-Demand Webinar: From Acceleration to Accountability: What Safe, Transparent AI Looks Like in Healthcare

February 17, 2026

On-Demand Webinar: From Acceleration to Accountability: What Safe, Transparent AI Looks Like in Healthcare

Hospitals and payers are integrating AI into workflows faster than ever but with acceleration comes scrutiny.

Patients want transparency. Regulators want guardrails. And health system leaders are asking: how do we ensure AI is safe?

In this session, URAC and members of its Health Care AI Accreditation Committee share insights on how health systems and payers are using AI today and where risks are rising.

Watch to Learn:

  • The patient-provider implications of AI disclosures, data bias and decision-making,
  • The hidden risks of undisclosed AI in patient care and operations, and
  • Why accreditation is emerging as a signal of quality, trust and governance.

Click Here to Download the On-Demand Webinar

Webinar: How St. Luke’s University Health Network Went from Precision Medicine Vision to Market Leadership, March 10

February 17, 2026

Webinar: How St. Luke’s University Health Network Went from Precision Medicine Vision to Market Leadership, March 10

Healthcare leaders recognize that market differentiation, network integrity and measurable clinical impact are no longer optional – they’re strategic necessities. The question isn’t whether precision medicine fits into these aims, but how to execute successfully.

St. Luke’s University Health Network identified this opportunity three years ago. To accelerate progress, leaders pursued a strategic partnership to launch the DNA Answers program. Since then, the precision medicine initiative has supported differentiation, reduced network leakage and driven downstream growth, while helping advance patient outcomes and influence organizational culture.

Join the session to learn:

  • Why the health system chose precision medicine as a strategic priority – and why timing was critical,
  • How a strategic partnership enabled faster, more effective implementation,
  • Measurable outcomes: competitive differentiation, network integrity and patient impact, and
  • How patient stories are transforming organizational culture.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, March 10, 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Webinar: AI-powered Coding for Cleaner Claims Start Earlier: Practical Strategies to Improve Accuracy Before Denials Begin, March 4

February 17, 2026

Webinar: AI-powered Coding for Cleaner Claims Start Earlier: Practical Strategies to Improve Accuracy Before Denials Begin, March 4

Coding accuracy sits at the center of both financial performance and clinical efficiency but staffing and resources are not keeping pace for many ASC and orthopedic practices. As pressures increase practices are turning to AI-powered support to keep pace and avoid falling behind.

As documentation requirements evolve and payer scrutiny increases, small inconsistencies in coding can create downstream denials, delayed payments, and unnecessary administrative burden for physicians and staff. AI-enable coding tools now help practices address these challenges earlier in the revenue cycle, allowing coders and billers to focus on higher-value work instead of time-consuming, lower-impact tasks.

In this webinar, healthcare leaders will explore how practices across specialties are taking a more consistent, supported approach to medical coding by adopting AI-accuracy earlier in the revenue cycle, reduce avoidable rework and support cleaner claims, all while enabling coding and billing teams to work at the top of their license and deliver greater value to the practice.

You’ll Learn:

  • How to reduce denials and rework by improving coding accuracy and consistency using AI-powered support,
  • Where coding issues most often create downstream revenue cycle disruption, and
  • Practical ways to support cleaner claims earlier in the revenue cycle while shifting staff towards higher-impact work.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, March 4, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Shadow AI: How 5 Systems are Managing Risk + Empowering Responsible Innovation, March 5

February 17, 2026

Webinar: Shadow AI: How 5 Systems are Managing Risk + Empowering Responsible Innovation, March 5

Generative AI is reshaping clinical and operational workflows – but not all AI use is visible to leadership. Across hospitals and health systems, “shadow AI” is emerging fast: unvetted, unsanctioned tools being used by clinicians and staff without formal oversight.

From PHI exposure to inconsistent clinical decision support, these underground workflows pose risks to patient safety, data security and institutional trust.

Join leaders from Cleveland Clinic, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Nuvance Health, Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Chicago Medicine for a grounded discussion on where shadow AI is emerging, how it’s slipping past governance frameworks and how leaders can respond without stifling innovation.

You’ll walk away with:

  • A clear picture of what shadow AI looks like today across clinical and administrative workflows,
  • Risks you may be missing – including patient safety, data leakage and AI hallucinations, and
  • Practical steps to move from reactive compliance to proactive, systemwide AI governance.

Whether you’re a CMIO, CIO, compliance officer or other healthcare leader, this session offers critical insight on managing AI risk while empowering responsible innovation.

Cost: Free

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

Click Here to Register

Webinar: From Pilot to Proof: Building Virtual Health Programs That Pay Back, February 27

February 17, 2026

Webinar: From Pilot to Proof: Building Virtual Health Programs That Pay Back, February 27

Virtual pilots often start with clear objectives, but too few deliver lasting value. Many stall without clear exit criteria, measurable impact or alignment.

This session brings together leaders from Carilion Clinic, Keck Medicine of USC, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, and Nuvance/Northwell Health to share how they’re redesigning pilots to ensure success is defined, measured and achieved.

Insights include:

  • How leading systems define pilot exit criteria, value metrics and scale readiness,
  • Strategies for converting workflow wins into measurable labor + cost impact, and
  • Lessons from pilots that turned into high-ROI, systemwide programs.

Cost: Free

When: Friday, February 27, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Whitepaper: The Real Cost of Nurse Turnover is Higher Than Most Leaders Realize

February 17, 2026

Whitepaper: The Real Cost of Nurse Turnover is Higher Than Most Leaders Realize

Nurse turnover is draining margins across healthcare organizations, often without being fully measured or understood.

While vacancy rates may look manageable on paper, the true impact shows up elsewhere: rising premium pay, missed coverage, longer time to fill roles, and mounting sunk costs tied to onboarding and lost experience. According to recent data, replacing a single nurse can cost up to $72,ooo. For hospitals with even modest turnover, the annual financial exposure can reach seven figures.

This report breaks down the full economic burden of nurse turnover and gives leaders a clearer way to quantify what it is costing their organization today. It goes beyond surface-level estimates to account for upfront replacement expenses, downstream productivity loss and the compounding effect of burnout on remaining staff.

Learnings Include:

  • The true cost to replace a single nurse and why common benchmarks underestimate it,
  • A simple, data-backed formula to calculate your organization’s annual turnover cost,
  • Which specialties face the highest turnover risk and why, and
  • Practical steps leaders are using now to stabilize workforce spend.

Click Here to Download Whitepaper

Funding Opportunity: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Data for Equitable Communities

February 17, 2026

Funding Opportunity: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Data for Equitable Communities

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is now accepting applications for its Local Data for Equitable Communities grant program. This opportunity supports U.S. based nonprofit organizations using local data to address inequities in the physical, economic, or social conditions of the places people live – advancing health equity at the community level.

RWJF expects to award up to 30 grants of $50,000 for nine-month projects. The application deadline is March 3 at 3 pm. ET.

Please go to the EPN website or the RWJF website for more information.

Whitepaper: Population Health Under Pressure: What Leaders From 3 Regions are Doing Differently

February 17, 2026

Whitepaper: Population Health Under Pressure: What Leaders From 3 Regions are Doing Differently

Health systems are expected to improve outcomes, reduce disparities and manage chronic disease all while absorbing rising costs and tighter reimbursement.

Leaders from health systems across the country are finding ways to align mission with margin through stronger collaborations, smarter data and clearer ROI.

This whitepaper captures insights and use cases from C-suite and population health leaders. From funding SDoH programs amid Medicaid cuts to reshaping incentives around primary care access, they share the challenges and solutions shaping population health’s next chapter.

Get insights on:

  • How one system used analytics to target 30,000+ patients and connect with up to 15,000,
  • Why more leaders are shifting from ROI to contribution margin and how to speak CFO, and
  • What makes health system – pharma collaboration work (and how to measure success).

Click Here to Download Whitepaper

Funding Opportunity: The T-Mobile Hometown Grants Spring Cycle, Apply by March 1

February 11, 2026

Funding Opportunity: The T-Mobile Hometown Grants Spring Cycle, Apply by March 1

The T-Mobile Grants Spring Cycle is now accepting applications from eligible rural communities across the United States. This funding opportunity is designed to support community led projects in towns with populations under $50,000, helping small communities thrive through targeted investments in local spaces and infrastructure.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available to support a wide range of initiatives, including technology upgrades, outdoor and public spaces, arts and cultural projects, and community centers. Funded projects should demonstrate a clear community benefit and contribute to long-term vitality and connection within rural areas.

T-Mobile reviews applications on a quarterly basis, providing multiple opportunities throughout the year for communities to apply.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to review program guidelines carefully and submit proposals that highlight community impact and readiness for implementation here.

Application deadline is March 1.

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

Webinar: Strategic Readiness for Aging Populations: How 4 Health Systems are Preparing, February 24

February 11, 2026

Webinar: Strategic Readiness for Aging Populations: How 4 Health Systems are Preparing, February 24

Aging populations are accelerating demand for neurological care, pushing health systems to rethink how and when they identify cognitive decline.

Traditional assessment models rely heavily on cognitive testing and structural imaging, which can limit visibility into early or functional change. As volumes rise and access tightens, this lack of clarity can create downstream strain across neurology, care coordination and utilization.

In this webinar, leaders from AdventHealth Orlando, Encompass Health, Mass General Brigham and University Hospitals examine how functional brain assessment can complement existing tools to support earlier, more confident clinical decision making. The discussion will focus on where current models break down and how executives can evaluate emerging diagnostic technologies through a clinical operational and strategic lens.

Speakers will explore how earlier insight into brain function can help guide next-step care, prioritize referrals and support clearer pathways as health systems prepare for the next decade of brain health demand.

Insights include:

  • How aging-driven growth in cognitive conditions is creating systemwide clinical and operational pressure,
  • Where cognitive tests and structural imaging leave gaps in early or functional assessment,
  • How functional brain assessment can support risk stratification and treatment planning, and
  • What leaders should consider when building a long-term brain health strategy.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register