Rural leadership conference day two roundup

Health care experts and leaders from across the country presented sessions that offered conference attendees practical and adaptable solutions to issues such as workforce development and retention, community partnerships, cybersecurity, and maternal and child health. Among other topics, speakers addressed:

• Age-friendly care and how rural hospitals are successfully adopting the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms framework — what matters, medication, mentation and mobility — to create safer, more responsive care environments.
• Cost-saving innovations in two case studies from critical access hospitals that used smart strategies to expand access to maternity care, behavioral health and specialty services while elevating the patient experience.
• Updates on the latest 340B program policies and what they mean for rural hospitals in 2026 and beyond.
• Strategic approaches to workforce growth and guidance for leaders seeking to enhance organizational culture and workforce sustainability.