INSIGHTS FROM AHA RURAL CONFERENCE

Lassiter, Pollack thank rural health care leaders as conference kicks off

More than 1,000 attendees gathered in Phoenix for AHA’s 35th annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, which brings together rural hospital CEOs, senior executives, clinical leaders and trustees to share strategies and resources for accelerating the shift to a more integrated and sustainable rural health system.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack welcomed attendees and discussed the important role rural hospitals play in their communities and how they have persevered during the COVID-19 public health emergency. He underscored the unique challenges rural health care organizations face, including geography, high patient volumes, shortages of professionals, payer mix, access to capital, providing behavioral health services, adjusting to new delivery models and the impact of economic and demographic change in their communities impacting the hospital, among other things. “Rural hospitals have been — and will always be — a critical part of the nation’s health care delivery system,” Pollack said. “After all, over 20% of all Americans live in rural areas and depend on their hospitals as cornerstones of their community.”

In addition, AHA Board of Trustees Chair Wright L. Lassiter III, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System, emphasized the important role rural hospitals play in providing local care close to home and ensuring millions of Americans living in rural communities get the quality care they need when they need it. “Your commitment, courage and compassion throughout the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredible and truly inspiring,” he said. “Each and every day, you and your teams have battled daunting challenges in an effort to save lives and protect families and communities.”

Lassiter also presented the 2021 AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Award to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore. The AHA Rural Hospital Leadership Award also recognized St. Charles Madras (Ore.) and Winona (Minn.) Health as finalists.

Attendees examined myriad other topics at roundtable discussions on building vaccine confidence, creating more equitable health systems, enhancing the patient experience, expanding access to care through telehealth options, combating maternal morbidity and mortality, addressing the opioid use disorder epidemic, and the impact of ransomware attacks on operations.

Watch AHA Today for more coverage and see additional insights on social media using #AHARuralHealth.

Related News Articles

Headline
Pollack kicks off conference; Haupert and Conroy share insights in fireside chat Nearly 1,200 rural health care practitioners and leaders convened in San…
Headline
Bolivar (Tenn.) General Hospital and its CEO, Ruby Kirby, will receive the AHA’s 2022 Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award at the Rural Health Care…
Perspective
“Hospitals and health systems come in all shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day, you’re providing care to people. And I think that’s what brings us all…
Chairperson's File
Turning the calendar to a new year brings some excitement as we look forward to new opportunities and adventures in our professional and personal lives.…
Headline
AHA Executive Vice President Michelle Hood previews the 2023 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, Feb. 19-22 in San Antonio, designed to help rural health…
Blog
In a new location for 2023, the 36th Annual AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, will be held Feb. 19-22 in San Antonio. The conference brings together…