How Rural Hospitals Are Redesigning Care for the Future

A new AHA Insights report, sponsored by Howden, details how rural hospitals have shifted out of survival mode to pursue intentional growth strategies. These providers are transforming their operations by investing in these key areas:

1 | Workforce Innovation

Rural providers are combating workforce shortages by building pipelines earlier, redesigning training trajectories and crafting roles and cultures that increase the sustainability and attractiveness of rural practice.

Example

York General — a critical access hospital serving just over 8,000 residents in York, Nebraska — has partnered with York Public Schools to introduce high schoolers to health care careers.

2 | Care Model Redesign

Providers are adjusting care delivery to better align with community needs while enhancing financial performance by expanding access to specialty care with hybrid care models.

Example

Winona (Minnesota) Health responded to challenges recruiting full-time specialists by launching tele-neurology, tele-rheumatology and tele-behavioral health programs that allow local providers and patients to connect with remote specialists.

3 | Digital Transformation

Rural hospitals are leveraging technology to transform care delivery, providing higher-acuity treatment and retaining patients who previously had to travel elsewhere for the services they need.

Example

Birmingham, Alabama-based UAB Medicine supports 41 rural hospitals across the state with tele-ICU, tele-stroke, tele-neurology and virtual nursing services.

4 | Strategic Partnerships

Rural hospitals are collaborating with health systems, community organizations and other local providers to preserve access to care in their communities despite workforce shortages, limited capital and intensifying patient needs.

Example

By integrating with UNC Health, UNC Chatham Hospital in Siler City, North Carolina, restored maternity care after a 30-year gap. Additionally, the hospital expanded its surgical and imaging capabilities, expanding access for local patients and keeping the services and economic benefits associated with that care.

5 | Governance and Leadership

For providers with thin margins and small leadership teams, boards and executive leaders have enormous influence over the success of new strategies. High-performing rural hospitals have positioned governance as a strategic driver of long-term sustainability.

Example

Gunnison (Colorado) Valley Health redesigned its governance structure, implementing formal board education, trustee skill assessments and clearer role definitions between the board and executive team. Those actions, in addition to investment in leadership development to increase trustees’ ability to make complex strategic decisions, have helped the health system weather financial pressures and pursue new projects while focusing on long-term priorities.

While rural hospitals continue to face significant challenges, their trajectory is shifting as they deliberately craft resilient systems and reshape the future of health care in their communities. Download the full report.