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Pollack kicks off conference; AHA board chair shares rural health challenges, hope for the future 
Nearly 1,100 rural health care practitioners and leaders convened in Orlando for AHA’s 37th Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. The annual event brings together rural hospital CEOs, senior executives, clinical leaders and trustees to share strategies, insights and resources unique to the rural health system.  

Sessions on Feb. 12 began with remarks from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, who welcomed attendees and noted the critical role hospitals play particularly in rural communities. He addressed the need for rural hospitals to prepare for the future using transformative solutions while maintaining access to quality health care despite myriad challenges rural hospitals face, such as workforce shortages, disrupted supply chains and reimbursement shortfalls. But with these challenges comes optimism, for rural hospitals are in a unique position to shape the future of health care delivery through access, trust and innovation.  

“As our population ages – which is faster and greater in rural America – we’ll see a growing demand for managing chronic conditions,” Pollack said. “And here’s the thing, people want to get care in their own community – closest to their homes, near their families, friends, neighbors and support systems. And [rural hospitals] are best positioned to provide this care, capturing this wave of need.”  

AHA Board of Trustees Chair Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health, discussed the importance of advocating for rural hospitals and communities, specifically around financial stability, workforce, telehealth and behavioral health. As a rural health care system CEO and physician, Conroy shared firsthand examples of the need to safeguard rural health care access and ensure continued quality care for rural communities.

Leaders discuss innovation and solutions to access challenges for rural care settings 
Leaders from rural health care facilities across the country shared their experiences and insight Feb. 12 during a plenary session on innovation and access to rural health care. AHA Board of Trustees Chair-elect Tina Freese-Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., hosted the afternoon session. “Rural health care is ripe for innovation,” she said. “But it is challenging, we all know that. Many times, we can feel stuck with providing the same service or not changing our services because of our limited resources or because of the expectations from others. But if we don’t do something new and bold, who will? And then what will happen to our community if we are not relentlessly pursuing better health for all?”

A panel discussion followed, which was moderated by AHA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michelle Hood, and featured leaders from five rural hospitals who shared their insights and experiences on innovation, covering topics including financial stability, workforce shortages, care delivery and access. 

Concluding the session was a fireside chat about primary care services offered by retailers, payer-owned providers and advanced primary care disrupters, which featured representatives from CVS Health and Dollar General. The discussion was moderated by Chris DeRienzo, AHA senior vice president and chief physician executive.

Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital honored for collaborative leadership and transformational change 
AHA Board of Trustees Chair Joanne Conroy, M.D., presented the 2023 Rural Hospitals Leadership Team Award to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, based in Waimea, for their work on eliminating health disparities among the Native Hawaiian community. Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital President Stephany Nihipali Vaioleti accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.

View Day 2 here.