Rural Spotlight

Registration Now Open: Missouri Rural Health Workforce Development Conference, April 1-2

February 3, 2025

Registration Now Open: Missouri Rural Health Workforce Development Conference, April 1-2

The Missouri Rural Health Association in partnership with the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are hosting the Rural Health Workforce Conference Tuesday, April 1st – Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Revitalizing Workplace Culture for Rural Healthcare Professionals

  • Growth: Strategies for expanding ad developing the rural health workforce.
  • Innovation: Implementing cutting-edge approaches and technologies in developing, recruiting, and retaining a high-quality rural health workforce.
  • Renewal: Techniques for enhancing workplace culture, morale, and retention among rural healthcare professionals.

The Rural Health Workforce Development Conference is ideal for:

  • health care employers,
  • administrators,
  • students,
  • HR professionals,
  • nonprofit organizations, and
  • any business with a vested interest in attracting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals to serve rural Missouri.

When: April 1 – 2, 2025

Click Here to Register

Free Webinar Series for RHC Leaders

February 3, 2025

Free Webinar Series for RHC Leaders

Join the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics (MARHC) for this three-part webinar series designed to empower you with actionable strategies to optimize revenue cycle management.

Presented by industry experts from Wintergreen, this training will provide insights into enhancing financial performance, boosting operational efficiency, and improving patient satisfaction.

Options available to attend live or on-demand.

Cost:

  • Full Series
    • MARHC Members: $100
    • Non-Members: $150
  • Single Sessions
    • MARHC Members: $50
    • Non-Members: $75

When:

  • February 13, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Strategy Management – Learn how to develop and implement effective strategies for comprehensive revenue cycle management to drive growth and sustainability.
  • May 29, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Front-End Improvement  – Explore best practices for front-end processes, including patient registration, insurance verification, and point-of-service collections.
  • August 14, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Back-End Improvement – Delve into methods to streamline back-end processes, such as claims management, billing, and accounts receivable follow-up, to enhance cash flow and minimize denials.

Click Here to Register

Register Now: NARHC 2025 Spring Institute

January 30, 2025

Register Now: NARHC 2025 Spring Institute

Join the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) for 19 educational sessions tailored specifically for Rural Health Clinics.

From RHC Management to Regulatory and Legislative Updates, this is a must-attend conference to get the education, knowledge, and policy updates you need to successfully run your RHC.

NARHC Institutes are put on by the only national association dedicated strictly to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). A wide range of rural health professionals will be in attendance including:

  • CEOs,
  • CFOs,
  • Physicians,
  • PAs,
  • NPs,
  • Clinic Managers,
  • Billers & Coders

Earn Continuing Education Credits – Average continuing education credits range from 14-16.

  • CME from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – for MDs, Pas, NPs, and some RNs
  • CEUs from American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) – for coders
  • If CRHCP certified, you can earn your conference attendance maintenance requirement if your certification expires at the end of the conference year.

When: 3/17/25 – 3/19/25

Where: Oklahoma City, OK

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Webinar: Faith and Health: Purple Sundays Offer Education and Support for Memory Loss, February 26

January 30, 2025

Webinar: Faith and Health: Purple Sundays Offer Education and Support for Memory Loss, February 26

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri to offer this free webinar.

You are invited to join this webinar to learn how to access free care and support services, engage in research and educate members of the faith community about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, February 26, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register

MRHA Webinar: Remote Patent Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

January 29, 2025

MRHA Webinar: Remote Patent Monitoring and Chronic Care Management, January 30

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CM) – defining these emerging care programs, unpacking their core benefits, and navigating the complexities of CMS reimbursement.

Attendees will understand how RPM in particular can uniquely advantage Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in enhancing patient outcomes and care delivery. The session will also equip participants with the knowledge ot assess their own facility’s needs, helping them choose the right RPM/CCM partner for success.

Finally, the session will shed light on potential pitfalls to avoid when implementing these transformative care programs. By the end, attendees will be well-equipped to leverage RPM and CCM to drive measurable improvements in their practice.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, January 30, 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Premedical Rural Education Program Applications Now Open!

January 29, 2025

Premedical Rural Education Program Applications Now Open!

The application for the MU School of Medicine Premedical Rural Education post-baccalaureate program (PREP) is now open. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2025.

What is PREP?

The MU School of Medicine Premedical Rural Education Program (PREP) is a post-baccalaureate program for Missouri rural background, college graduates interested in applying or re-applying to medical school. Applicants accepted to PREP will complete online modules, participate in required workshops and activities, and complete a graduate certificate program during the two-year program to prepare and enhance their application to medical school.

Participant Benefits

  • PREP participants receive an annual $12,000 stipend to assist with costs associated with taking and preparing for the MCAT, tuition, books, cost of living, and AMCAS application fees. Students must remain in good standing, meeting all program requirements, to advance through the program and continue to receive the annual stipend.
  • PREP participants who receive a 500 on their MCAT, receive A or B grades in required coursework taken during the Postbaccalaureate program, and are meeting all other program requirements will receive an automatic interview with MU School of Medicine Admissions Committee.
  • Postbaccalaureate students who are accepted to MU School of Medicine, will receive priority selection for the Rural Scholars Program during medical school.
  • PREP students will have access to a PREP faculty advisor and PREP staff coordinator to assist and guide them while in PREP.
  • PREP students will earn a graduate certificate from the University of Missouri upon successful completion of the program.

How to Apply

Visit the PREP Program website for detailed application instructions and for a link to the program application.

  • Applicants interested in applying to PREP must complete the program application by 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2025.
  • Selected students will be invited to interview for the program via Zoom in early June 2025.
  • An online mandatory program orientation will be held in July 2025 for all accepted applicants.
  • Students will begin in the program in July 2025.

Questions?

Please contact ruralscholars@health.missouri.edu with questions or for more information.

Free Mobile SIM Training – Coming to Rural Sites Throughout Missouri

January 27, 2025

Free Mobile SIM Training – Coming to Rural Sites Throughout Missouri

Thanks to funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the University of Missouri (MU) School of Medicine Mobile Sim program offers hands-on learning at no cost.

MU’s self-contained mobile training units come fully equipped and staffed by trained professionals who will work with your educational teams to create customized training that meets your facility’s needs.

This training involves use of highly sophisticated manikins in simulated environments (IE – hospital room or ambulance) for a very wide range of scenarios to include:

  • STEMI,
  • aortic dissection,
  • delivery with postpartum hemorrhage,
  • severe preeclampsia,
  • pediatric emergencies,
  • stroke,
  • sepsis,
  • overdose,
  • DKA,
  • trauma,
  • PE,
  • tension pneumothorax,
  • anaphylaxis,
  • GI bleed and many more.

This is a unique opportunity to enhance training at your facility without any cost.

Please consider joining ORHPC on February 13, at 12:30 p.m. to hear more about this exciting opportunity.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 13, 12:30 p.m.

Click Here to join

Questions about the program:

Revenue Cycle Management for RHC Leaders, 3-Part Series

January 27, 2025

Revenue Cycle Management for RHC Leaders, 3-Part Series

Join the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics (MARHC) for an exclusive three-part webinar series designed to empower RHC leaders with actionable strategies to optimize revenue cycle management.

Presented by industry experts from Wintergreen, this training will provide insights into enhancing financial performance, boosting operational efficiency, and improving patient satisfaction.

Why Attend?

Revenue cycle management is critical to the financial and operational success of Rural Health Clinics. This series provides practical tools and strategies tailored to the unique challenges of RHCs.

Cost:

  • Full Series (3 sessions):
    • MARHC Members: $100
    • Non-Members: $150
  • Single Session (A la Carte):
    • MARHC Members: $50
    • Non-Members: $75

Note: Recordings Available: All sessions will be recorded, and links will be sent to registered attendees. If you’re unable to attend live, register to receive the recording and benefit from this valuable training at you convenience.

When:

  • February 13, 2025: Revenue Cycle Strategy Management
  • May 29, 2025: Front-End Cycle Improvement
  • August 14, 2025: Back-End Revenue Cycle Improvement

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals, January 29

January 22, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals, January 29

Securing federal grants is critical for rural hospitals to implement and sustain telehealth programs. This session offers practical strategies to access funding and make telehealth a long-term solution for your community.

Angela Connor, a grant expert with a proven track record of helping rural hospitals secure millions in federal funding, will share actionable insights on navigating the complex grant process. Her work has directly supported hospitals in expanding telehealth programs and improving access to care in underserved communities.

Dr. Anisha Mathur, a telehealth leader with extensive experience working in critical access hospitals, will discuss how rural facilities can use virtual care to deliver high quality, specialty services while keeping patients local. Her real-world examples highlight what’s possible when funding aligns with a strong telehealth strategy.

Attendees will learn:

  • Which federal grants are available to rural hospitals right now,
  • Step-by-step guidance to create compelling applications that win funding,
  • Real-world examples of grant-funded telehealth programs that improve outcomes and sustain local care.

This session equips rural healthcare leaders with actionable tools to secure financial support and enhance care delivery for their communities.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, January 29, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

How Private Equity Reduces Patient Care, Enriches Investors

January 22, 2025

How Private Equity Reduces Patient Care, Enriches Investors

A yearlong bipartisan congressional investigation into two private equity-backed hospital systems found that patient care deteriorated at both operations as their private equity owners reaped significant payouts on their investments in the systems.

Additionally, analysts expect to see hospitals recording modest gains in their operating margins over the coming year. They see encouraging signs with labor pressures easing a bit and improved volumes.

Click Here to Read More