Pollack, Gragnolati Discuss Challenges, Opportunities for Rural Hospitals

Feb 05, 2018 - 02:31 PM

More than 850 rural health care leaders are in Phoenix this week for the 31st Annual AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. They are participating in educational sessions and sharing strategies and resources to accelerate the shift to a more integrated and sustainable rural health care environment.

During today’s opening session, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack thanked attendees for the critical role they play in providing care in communities across America and ensuring patients have access to vital health care services. Pollack also discussed major challenges and opportunities for rural hospitals in 2018 and beyond, including those related to value and affordability, chronic care management and consumerism. Watch a short video of Pollack from the conference discussing these issues.

Later in the day, AHA Chair-Elect Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health System in Morristown, NJ, led a panel focused on future health care delivery models in rural communities. Gragnolati spoke about how hospitals in different areas of the country will have to pursue models that are right for their patients and their populations, but that all hospitals must work on expanding access, improving health outcomes and lowering the total cost of care. As part of the panel, AHA Board Member Christina Campos, administrator of Guadalupe County Hospital in Santa Rosa, NM; Ronald Paulus, M.D., president and CEO of Mission Health System in Asheville, NC; and Rachelle Schultz, president and CEO of Winona (MN) Health, discussed how strategic collaborations and key stakeholder relationships can be integrated to strengthen the models and drive success.

Related News Articles

Headline
HRSA to award grants from two areas of rural opioid response program
The Health Resources and Services Administration will award grants to rural hospitals and other providers from two areas of its Rural Communities Opioid…
Headline
Senators introduce AHA-supported bill granting extension of Medicare payment model for rural hospitals
Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., April 30 introduced the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act, legislation that…
Headline
Applications now open for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award 
Applications are now open for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award, which recognizes and shares the accomplishments of rural hospitals that…
Blog
Why Paragon Gets Hospitals Wrong: Report Ignores Reality of Care Delivery
Public
In think‑tank reports, like the one released this week by Paragon Health Institute, hospitals are often reduced to abstractions — payment rates, charts,…
Headline
Speakers sought for 2027 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference
The AHA is seeking participants to speak at the 2027 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, which will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 3 in Orlando, Fla. …
Headline
Sen. Susan Collins spotlights rural hospitals, workforce and medical research
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, in…