Podcasts about Rural health

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Cyclosporiasis Outbreak with Unknown Source,” July 14, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/07-26/index.html.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Clinical Overview of Cyclosporiasis,” February 29, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “About FoodNet,” April 28, 2018, https://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/about/.  American Medical Association, “Cyclospora,” Jul 9, 2026, https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/infectious-diseases/cyclospora.  Lena Sun, “How much did CDC cuts really impact this cyclosporiasis outbreak?,” July 15, 2026, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/07/15/how-much-did-cdc-cuts-really-impact-this-cyclosporiasis-outbreak/, The Washington Post.  Victoria Forster, “Unresolved Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak Raises Questions About CDC Cuts,” July 14, 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2026/07/13/unresolved-cyclospora-outbreak-raises-questions-over-cdc-cuts/, Forbes.  Madeline Scheetz, “17 maternity service closures in 2026,” July 14, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rural-health/rural-workforce/3-maternity-closures-in-3-weeks/, Becker's Hospital Review.  Cheryl Whitney, “Bridging the distance: Bringing care closer to home for rural Veterans,” July 8, 2026, https://news.va.gov/148097/bringing-care-closer-home-rural-veterans/, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

About this episode:   Late last year, the federal government awarded the state of Maryland $168 million for projects advancing rural health. In this episode: Elizabeth Kromm of the Maryland Department of Health explains how the state plans to use this Rural Health Transformation grant to bolster the state's health workforce, connect more people to primary care, get more locally-grown, nutritious foods on Marylander's plates—and the massive effort to turn around a grant proposal like this on a very tight timeline. Guest:  Elizabeth Edsall Kromm, PhD, is assistant secretary of population health and strategic initiatives at the Maryland Department of Health and adjunct assistant professor of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host:  Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Show links and related content:  Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)—Maryland Department of Health What Rural America Can Learn from Global Health—Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Maryland All-Payer Model—CMS.gov The State of Rural Health—Public Health On Call (January 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith, 2026 president of the National Rural Health Association joins us on today's episode of Rural Health Fractured. Today we are talking about rural healthcare and aging. Dr. Henning-Smith will share her experience providing aging care in rural communities as well as her research into the social infrastructure of rural health. We'll talk about caregiver burnout, medicare access and of course, what it has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠⁠  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-henning-smith-b448242b8

States are starting to dole out their share of Rural Health Transformation Program grant money. Whose money will go the furthest in improving the health of rural America? David W. Johnson and Julie Murchinson chewed on the most effective ideas on, “Will Rural Health Transformation Grants Pave the Road to Good Health?” the new episode of the 4sight Health Roundup podcast, moderated by David Burda.

What does it actually take for a hospital, a research institution, or a public health agency to deserve the trust of the communities it serves? Consuelo H. Wilkins has spent her career asking that question — not as a philosopher, but as a physician who sees patients and as a researcher who has built the tools to measure whether trust is really there. Prof. Wilkins is Professor of Medicine and Senior Vice President at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she also holds the Mildred Thornton Stahlman Chair in Rural Health. She led the development of Vanderbilt's Racial Equity Plan, and her team created one of the first measurement tools designed specifically to capture how historically excluded communities perceive trustworthiness. In this conversation, she argues that institutions get the direction of trust the wrong way round: they ask to be trusted before demonstrating that they are trustworthy. She reflects on what it feels like to sit across from a patient who does not trust the system behind the white coat, why so many institutions respond to broken trust with the wrong remedy — the glamorous ad campaign that avoids the underlying grievance — and what the Covid pandemic revealed about the transparency and humility so often missing from public health. She also explains what the numbers show about the specific fears Black and Latino communities bring into medical research — fears clustered around secrecy, being misled, and loss of control over their own data - and why lumping all marginalized groups together is a mistake that leads to interventions that do not work. Along the way, she offers a hard-earned lesson from leading Vanderbilt's Racial Equity Plan: equity work only endures if it is embedded across every function of an institution. Because when political pressure arrives, isolated initiatives are the first to fall.

Heidi Hagel-Braid, chief executive officer at First Children's Finance, joins us on today's episode of Rural Health Today. Childcare deserts present a serious challenge to rural communities nationwide. Heidi's insight will provide us an understanding of the issues rural communities face as well as actionable steps we can take. We'll talk about access to rural childcare, creative solutions, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! ⁠https://x.com/RuralHealthPod⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665⁠  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! ⁠https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠ ⁠https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/⁠  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidihagelbraid Follow First Children's Finance! https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-children's-finance

Lisa Lavin, CEO of Ōmcare, joins Over the Counter to discuss her organization's role in the Rural Health Innovation Initiative and how the Home Health Hub is transforming access to care in rural communities.

Grant funding can open doors, but it can't close the gaps that form when revenue walks out the back door. In this follow-up episode of the EisnerAmper Healthcare Podcast, host Tony Davis continues the conversation with Jane Clark and Peter Avellino, shifting focus from grants to the operational and financial strategies rural hospitals need to build long-term resilience. Peter shares how attribution models can reveal where patients are going after leaving a facility, and why that intelligence is a game-changer for rural providers whose patient populations are finite. The episode covers revenue cycle fundamentals (coding accuracy, timely billing, follow-up scheduling), 340B program eligibility, pharmacy benefit management optimization, and how AI-assisted tools are compressing the time between date of service and cash collected. Jane connects the dots between grant strategy and revenue cycle improvement, making the case that federal programs like the Rural Health Transformation Program are increasingly designed to fund transformational infrastructure, including billing systems, data platforms, and workforce stabilization, rather than fill operating gaps. She closes with a direct message for rural and tribal health leaders: stop treating financing, operations, and compliance as separate conversations. If your organization is navigating thin margins, workforce pressures, or the question of whether to convert to a rural emergency hospital model, this episode gives you a practical framework for thinking about what to do next.

Rural and tribal health organizations face a funding environment unlike any other, one shaped by sovereign government relationships, rapidly shifting federal priorities, and grant programs most organizations don't know exist. In this episode of the EisnerAmper Healthcare Podcast, host Tony Davis sits down with grants management professional Jane Clark and healthcare finance veteran Peter Avellino to unpack how rural hospitals and tribal health organizations can find and successfully access meaningful funding. The conversation covers the landscape of rural hospital designations (critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, and more), why each carries different reimbursement implications, and how those designations affect grant eligibility. Jane walks through the five major federal grant categories currently available to rural providers, including the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, HRSA rural health grants, and tribal-specific funding through Indian Health Services. She also shares a client story in which the right grant management support helped one organization grow from a single $250,000 federal grant to over $2 million across eight programs in just two years. Whether you're a healthcare executive looking to diversify your organization's funding or a tribal health leader navigating the dual funding structure of Indian Health Services and Medicaid, this episode offers a grounded, practical starting point.

Everyone knows that rural health care systems are stressed: costly populations, low reimbursements, staffing shortages, transportation problems—and the 900 billion to one trillion dollar cuts upcoming in Medicaid will severely add to those stresses. But rural providers also have advantages when it comes to the chances for transformation. In a recent video interview, we explore the opportunities in rural health, particularly the use of technology for value-based care with Pranam Ben, Founder & CEO at The Garage and Brittany Sachdeva, COO at Cibolo Health.Learn more about The Garage: https://www.thegaragein.com/Learn more about Cibolo Health: https://cibolohealth.com/Healthcare IT Community: https://www.healthcareittoday.com/

Lachlan MacMillan's route to medicine has been anything but traditional. After leaving school to become a carpenter, he spent years working across rural and remote Australia, from cattle stations and horseback tours to conservation work in the Kimberley, before a series of medical emergencies sparked an unexpected passion for healthcare. Now studying medicine through the School of Rural Health in Dubbo, Lachlan reflects on the family support, mentors and life experiences that helped him pursue a career he once thought was beyond his reach. His story is a powerful reminder that there is no single pathway into medicine, and that sometimes the most rewarding journeys are the least expected.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senate Public Health Chairman Hob Bryan said the lack of transparency around the governor's program to spend millions in federal rural health dollars in Mississippi is "almost the Saturday Night Live parody of secrecy." Bryan and his House counterpart, Chairman Sam Creekmore, share their frustrations over lack of input from communities, and the Legislature, in how the state spends federal rural health care money.

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Forvis Mazars, “CMS Rule Signals Shift in Medicaid State-Directed Payments,” June 11, 2026, https://www.forvismazars.us/forsights/2026/06/cms-rule-signals-shift-in-medicaid-state-directed-payments. Medicaid.gov, “State Directed Payments,” https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/managed-care/guidance/state-directed-payments. Sturgis Hospital, “Sturgis Hospital Closure,” https://sturgishospital.com/sturgis-hospital-closure/. The Association of American Medical Colleges, “AAMC Statement on Proposed Rule on Medicaid Supplemental Payments,” May 21, 2026, https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/aamc-statement-proposed-rule-medicaid-supplemental-payments. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “Proposed Rule: Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-For-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments (CMS-2449-P),” May 20, 2026, https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/proposed-rule-medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-and-medicaid-fee-service. Michigan Health & Hospital Association, “CMS Releases FY 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule,” April 17, 2026, https://www.mha.org/newsroom/cms-releases-fy-2027-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-proposed-rule/. Federal Register, “Medicaid Program; Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments,” May 22, 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/22/2026-10292/medicaid-program-medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-and-medicaid-fee-for-service-targeted. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-For-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments Proposed Rule (CMS-2449-P,” May 20, 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-medicaid-fee-service-targeted-medicaid-practitioner. Andrea Hooten, “New Rural Health Hub Connects Arkansans to Healthcare Resources, Opportunities,” June 15, 2026, https://news.uams.edu/2026/06/15/new-rural-health-hub-connects-arkansans-to-healthcare-resources-opportunities/, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences News. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Amanda Bank, program officer at the Center for Healthcare Strategies, joins us on today's episode of Rural Health Today. Access to food is a key determinant of health in any community. Amanda's expertise on food security will be vital in helping us understand the impact food insecurity has on small-town America. We'll talk about food security programs, policy changes, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-bank/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/chcshealth/

Rural healthcare is facing one of its most pivotal moments in decades. With major Medicaid changes, a historic $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, workforce shortages, and growing pressure on hospitals and providers, the decisions being made in Washington today will shape the future of rural communities for years to come.In this episode, we sit down with a leading policy expert from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to unpack the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape and what it means for rural providers, patients, and community leaders across the country.From Capitol Hill politics to federal funding opportunities, our guest breaks down the key healthcare issues dominating the national conversation, including Medicaid reform, Medicare Advantage challenges, workforce shortages, telehealth expansion, AI in healthcare, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, and the long-awaited Farm Bill. We also explore the Rural Health Transformation Program—one of the largest federal investments in rural healthcare in generations—and what states must do to secure and sustain funding.The conversation dives into the realities facing rural hospitals and clinics, the impact of federal policy changes on healthcare access, and the innovative solutions emerging across the country to strengthen rural health infrastructure and improve outcomes.Whether you're a healthcare executive, policymaker, provider, educator, or advocate, this episode offers valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of rural health.If you care about the future of healthcare access in rural America, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Tune in for an inside look at the policies, funding, and innovations that could redefine rural healthcare for the next generation.The CSRHA has been a go-to resource for rural healthcare and community leaders since 1995. The CSRHA brings an accumulation of actionable insights to the next generation of rural healthcare leaders. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on Facebook.If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this!Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

Earlier this month, the Hunger & Health Coalition welcomed Lindsey Sullivan as the organization's new Executive Director. Lindsey is no stranger to the non-profit scene in Watauga County, having served as Health Strategist at AppHealthCare, where, among other projects, she was a lead voice in the creation of STABLE Workplaces.On this week's Mind Your Business, we catch up with Lindsey at the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated home of Hunger and Health Coalition, a space that connects their footprint to the Community Care Clinic, following a merger of the two organizations in 2025. After the event, we sat down to discuss leading through transition, the value of listening in the early days of a new role, and how prior knowledge of a business can accelerate opportunity for growth.We'll also provide some fresh news on the FY27 budget plans for Watauga County and the Town of Boone. Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.Support the show

The $50B Rural Health Question In this session, Scott Cook, VP of Business Development at Infinx, unpacks what the Rural Health Transformation Program may mean in practice. The conversation will explore what the funding is designed to accomplish, why each state's approach matters, and how rural healthcare organizations should think about sustainability once the five-year funding period ends. The session will also look at the operational burden behind transformation funding. Rural health teams may be asked to apply for, justify, track, and operationalize funding while already managing workforce shortages, payer pressure, technology gaps, and limited administrative capacity. Scott will help frame the practical questions rural providers should be asking now: What can this funding realistically support? What happens when it goes away? And how can organizations use this moment to strengthen revenue cycle, access, and care delivery instead of simply chasing short-term dollars? Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen

Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Sarah Jane Tribble of KFF Health News to the pod to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Fund, highlighting how it aims to improve infrastructure and access in rural communities amid ongoing challenges like hospital closures, workforce shortages, and Medicaid cuts. To learn more about the Rural Health Transformation Fund, join us on June 8 for a free event featuring Kate Sapra and Katherine Ornstein highlighting state initiatives focusing on improving care for older adults.Join us on June 23 for an exclusive Insider virtual event examining how antitrust policy in health care is evolving at both the federal and state levels, featuring insights from Katherine Gudiksen, Leemore Dafny, and Nathan Hostert.Related Links:Rural Health Payout Series (KFF Health News)Rural America at a Glance (U.S. Department of Agriculture)Federal Budget Cuts Won't Hit All Hospitals Equally: How States Can Better Analyze Hospital And Health System Financial Data (Health Affairs Forefront)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

We are excited to have Joyce Fetrow, project director of the North Michigan Opioid Response Consortium, join us on today's episode of Rural Health Today. Opioid use continues to be prevalent in rural communities, especially those lacking the resources to address it with sustainable solutions. Joyce is here to share her perspective as a leader in the field of opioid response. We'll talk about effective programming, prevention methods, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.  Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-fetrow-cprm-cprm-m-chw-87473914b/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigan-center-for-rural-health/

The Rural Health Transformation Program brings $50 billion in federal funding to states over five years, but the real question is whether temporary funding can create lasting operational change. In this episode, Scott Cook, VP of Business Development at Infinx, joins Stuart Newsome to discuss what rural providers should understand about the program, the state-by-state variability, and the operational realities behind applying for and sustaining these funds.Brought to you by www.infinx.com

Sia Beasley shares how simple, consistent movement— and meaningful social connection — can transform healthspan and quality of life, especially as we age. From evidence-based fall prevention and the power of tai chi to the critical role of strength, mobility, and community belonging, the conversation highlights practical ways to stay independent and thrive across the lifespan. The episode also shines a light on persistent rural health challenges, including limited access to care and resources, while emphasizing the resilience and creativity of rural communities in overcoming these barriers. Sia shares insights on how small, intentional lifestyle choices can build strength, prevent decline, and support a longer, more fulfilling life. Read more about Sia here: https://phes.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/sia-beasley

From leadership shakeups at the federal level to one of the largest investments in rural health in decades, public health is navigating a moment of uncertainty and opportunity.  In this episode, ASTHO senior analyst for Government Affairs, Catherine Murphy, unpacks the ripple effects of ongoing changes at the Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC. Workforce reductions, leadership turnover, and shifts in advisory bodies like ACIP are reshaping how guidance is developed, how states access expertise, and how much trust clinicians and communities place in public health recommendations. Later, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Kansagra, zooms out to the state level, where leaders are racing to deploy Rural Health Transformation Program funds under tight timelines and complex compliance requirements. We'll hear comments Dr. Kansagra made at a recent EY educational webinar titled, “Now, Next, and Beyond: Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program.”Recent HHS Leadership Changes That Impact Public Health | ASTHONow, Next, and Beyond: Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program | EY - US2026 Multi-country Hantavirus Cluster Linked to Cruise Ship | HAN | CDCThriving Under Pressure: Building Resilient Dialysis Systems and Teams

Monica McConkey, Eyes on the Horizon founder and rural mental health specialist, joins us on today's guest episode of Rural Health Today. Today we're talking about access to mental healthcare in rural communities. Monica is here to share her perspective as a leader in rural mental health. We'll talk about service closures, how stigma affects care, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.  Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamcconkey/ https://www.eyesonthehorizon.org/ https://www.facebook.com/eyesonthehorizonconsulting

Send us a MessagePursuing RHT opportunities that are not in strategic alignment can create “strategy creep” or “strategy swap” scenarios that likely won't play out well in the short or long termIn this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff explores a critical strategy challenge facing rural healthcare organizations today: how to navigate the massive Rural Health Transformation (RHT) opportunity without losing strategic focus.With $50 billion in funding, multi-organization collaboratives, and increasing pressure to participate, healthcare leaders are being presented with more opportunities than ever before. But as Sue shares from her decades of experience as a healthcare strategist, not every opportunity is strategic.This episode introduces two key risks organizations must guard against:Strategy Creep — layering new initiatives on top of existing priorities, stretching teams thin and reducing execution qualityStrategy Swap — replacing carefully developed strategic priorities with externally funded initiatives that may not align with the organization's true needsSue emphasizes that while funding can accelerate strategy, it should never define it. Instead, organizations must stay grounded in their mission, their community's needs, and their clearly defined strategic priorities.She also shares practical decision filters to help leaders evaluate which opportunities to pursue — and which to pass on — so they can maintain focus, protect their teams, and achieve meaningful, lasting results:Does this directly advance one of our top strategic priorities on our plan?What are we going to need to stop or de-We're stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We'd love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net Learn more and register for the 2026 Healthcare Executive Forum - We look forward to seeing you on June 17-18 in Madison, Wisconsin!Hi! I'm Sue Tetzlaff. I'm a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.For decades, I've worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I've learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It's the hardest thing, and it determines everything.When you're ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:1. Listen to the Culture Change RX PodcastEvery week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy. 2. Subscribe to our Email NewsletterGet practical tips, frameworks, and leadership tools delivered right to your inbox—plus exclusive content you won't find on the podcast.

In this episode of Fresh Perspectives in Social Work, we explore how states and organizations can use Rural Health Transformation Program funds to drive long-term sustainability. Rural health strategy expert Zil Joyce Dixon Romero, Senior State Government Affairs Manager at the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), shares practical insights into the barriers states face, proven strategies for sustaining impact, and how to navigate evolving policy environments. You'll hear perspectives on maximizing funding, building creative partnerships, and aligning strategy with shifting federal and state priorities, including real-world considerations for implementation success. Whether you're a state official, healthcare administrator, or community partner, this episode offers actionable guidance to help you sustain funding impact, navigate policy shifts, and strengthen rural health systems. Highlights: Strategies to extend the impact of Rural Health Transformation Program funding Common barriers to sustainability—and how to overcome them The role of partnerships and policy alignment in long-term success Subscribe to Fresh Perspectives in Social Work for more episodes like this, and visit berrydunn.com to explore how we support sustainable health initiatives.

Pennsylvania has just a few months left to spend its first round of federal funding dedicated to rural health.  The money is intended to offset Medicaid losses during the next decade, with this initial award prioritizing existing program stabilization.  Emergency responders are exploring what future funding rounds could mean for their services.Submissions are now being accepted for The Older Artists of PA Showcase planned for later this summer at the State Capitol. And a deeper dive:In suburban Philadelphia, a farm and a nonprofit are teaming up and forging a unique partnership to fight both food waste and hunger.

How Mayo Clinic Health System is transforming care for largely rural communities while reshaping culture, workforce, and AI-enabled practice across a widely dispersed network.

In this episode, Tessa Misiaszek, President of Leadership Solutions at AMN Healthcare, explores how rural healthcare organizations can adapt to new CMS expectations by strengthening data infrastructure, leadership capacity, and operating models. She shares why workforce strategy, accountability, and transformational leadership are critical to sustaining performance and long term success.This episode is sponsored by AMN Healthcare.

Health Innovation Summit ICYMI episode, features a panel on Rural Health Transformation, moderated by Avery Muse, following a DocuSign/Microsoft “Medicare Connect” demo showing verified digital ID, secure record access, consent signing, appointments, claims status, and transportation support. Panelists from HHS, CMS, cybersecurity, and DocuSign discuss rural challenges: 20% of the U.S. is rural, staffing can be 60% or less, 180+ rural hospital closures since 2010, and one-third of rural patients drive 25+ miles for care, with rural areas leading in chronic disease. They explain the $50B CMS-managed program, state applications and allocations, CMS oversight via a PMO, spending guardrails across 11 categories, and clawback authority. Voyagers Program | ACT-IAC A Hell of a Regiment: To Gettysburg and Beyond with the Twentieth Maine | ACT-IAC Summary - A Hole in One with ACT-IACSubscribe on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode! For more from ACT-IAC, follow us on LinkedIn or visit http://www.actiac.org.Learn more about membership at https://www.actiac.org/join.Donate to ACT-IAC at https://actiac.org/donate. Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria TellsCourtesy of Epidemic Sound(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young CommunityCourtesy of Epidemic Sound)

The Big Unlock · Linda Stevenson, Chief Operations & Information Officer, Fisher-Titus Health In this episode, Linda Stevenson, Chief Operations & Information Officer at Fisher-Titus Health, shares how rural health systems are driving innovation under significant resource constraints. Leading a 100-bed community hospital with a lean IT team, she highlights the realities of “doing more with less”—from workforce shortages to the critical need for interoperability in coordinating care beyond organizational walls. Linda challenges the industry's fixation on AI as a standalone strategy, advocating instead for a problem-first approach: start with the clinical or operational need, then determine if AI is the right fit. She emphasizes that true transformation comes from aligning technology with enterprise priorities, not chasing hype. She also points to persistent gaps in interoperability and growing cybersecurity risks, particularly in rural settings where vulnerabilities can impact the broader ecosystem. Her message is clear: stay grounded in strategy, focus on outcomes, and prioritize partnership over products to drive meaningful, scalable change. Take a listen. This guest appearance was facilitated through conversations initiated at ViVE.

Today's podcast features an interview with Casey Balio, PhD, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. They share new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recent article published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/public-health-workforce-may-2026 Exploring Rural Health is an RHIhub podcast.

In this episode, Brendan Harris, President, UPMC for You and State Programs & Patti Jackson-Gehris, President, UPMC North Central and Williamsport markets, discuss UPMC's strategies to improve rural healthcare access through workforce development, telehealth expansion, and innovative care models that address geographic and socioeconomic barriers.

Rural communities face some of the most complex and often overlooked public health challenges. Today, Melanie Ramsey, deputy director of CDC's Office of Rural Health, discusses how a new national effort is working to close those gaps.  The Rural Health Academy is a growing initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of state and local health leaders. Ramsey will share how the Academy is fostering peer-to-peer learning, connecting federal and state partners, and equipping leaders with practical tools to better serve rural populations.  Some states are exploring creative solutions like housing incentives for health workers, while new federal coordination efforts aim to align strategy and funding across agencies.  Ramsey also highlights CDC's Rural Public Health Training Plan, a free, self-paced program built to deliver real-world, scenario-based training to anyone working in rural health.National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network | HomeAbout the Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke | Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke | CDCProject Firstline | Project Firstline | CDCRural Health Mapping ToolRural Health Science Tips | Rural Health | CDCRural Public Health Training Plan - CDC TRAIN - an affiliate of the TRAIN Learning Network powered by the Public Health FoundationRural Public Health | Rural Health | CDCASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Modernizing and Strengthening Data For STI PreventionFunding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO

Connecticut recently moved the needle in a big way with committed funding to agencies supporting rural health initiatives. So, we're reconnecting with the leader from the New England Rural Health Assoc. to learn how our state is setting the pace on a number of public health fronts impacting our rural communities, as well as how our neighboring states are coming to grips with similar challenges.

In this episode, Brendan Harris, President, UPMC for You and State Programs & Patti Jackson-Gehris, President, UPMC North Central and Williamsport markets, discuss UPMC's strategies to improve rural healthcare access through workforce development, telehealth expansion, and innovative care models that address geographic and socioeconomic barriers.

Connecticut recently moved the needle in a big way with committed funding to agencies supporting rural health initiatives. So, we'll reconnect with the leader from the New England Rural Health Assoc. to learn how our state is setting the pace on a number of public health fronts impacting our rural communities, as well as how our neighboring states are coming to grips with similar challenges.Then we'll celebrate a new program out of the University of Bridgeport that is placing Honors Civic Fellows into Bridgeport schools to lead interactive workshops for students focusing on civic responsibility, leadership, and community engagement. And we'll close continuing our celebration of 2026 - the International Year of the Woman Farmer - by introducing Kies Orr-LaVack, a fourth-generation dairy farmer and co-owner of Fort Hill Farms in Thompson who was a former CT Outstanding Young Farmer, and whose farm was the 2025 New England Green Pastures award winner! 

Longtime Sen. Hob Bryan, chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee, discusses the recent failed attempt by lawmakers to override the governor's veto of a bill aimed at oversight and transparency in spending of hundreds of millions of federal funds for rural health care in Mississippi.

Have you ever heard anyone say something like, “He's a typical farmer. He's built tough and will just power through.” Well, maybe it's time for this image to go. Special guest Kathy Walker joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Kathy has a degree from Purdue University in health promotion and is the Program Director for the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) who handles the programming for Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives.Kathy will share about how she ended up working for IRHA and specifically, how she began working with growers and ag businesses in the areas of mental health and suicide.In addition to her QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, you'll learn how Kathy is equipped to help employers by providing training to assist and refer employees and growers in navigating mental health and stress issues. “Farmers… [are] a demographic that has a high rate of suicide… Yeah, they're strong, self-sufficient… but they're also human beings, and we all have our limits.”If you're struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to the Purdue Farm Stress team which is a group of professionals who are equipped to resource growers with tools, programs, and additional resources to help handle the day-to-day stresses growers face. You can find out more information about the Purdue Farm Stress team at https://extension.purdue.edu/farm_stress/index.html. 

Rural Health Today is thrilled to welcome to the show Alana Skye Campbell, senior director of healthcare access at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Today we're talking about healthcare deserts in rural America and how access to local care impacts the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Alana is here to share her perspective and insight on healthcare access for multiple sclerosis care and treatment. We'll talk about barriers to receiving care and treatment in a healthcare desert, the impact of limited access on the wellbeing of a community, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.  Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-skye-campbell/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-ms-society/https://www.facebook.com/nationalmssociety

Kathleen Sebelius was in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when the Affordable Care Act became law. Now, she and a bipartisan group are putting their best thinking forward for how to fix rural health care. Their report from Aspen Institute's Health Strategy Group calls the rural mortality gap a “moral […] The post Kathleen Sebelius Ran HHS. Now, She's Tackling Rural Health appeared first on Healthy Communities Online.

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: National Association of Rural Health Clinics, “Congress Takes Steps to Exempt Health Care Workers from New H-1B Fee,” April 16, 2026, https://www.narhc.org/News/33042/Congress-Takes-Steps-to-Exempt-Health-Care-Workers-from-New-H-1B-Fee.  Congress.gov, “Text - H.R.7691 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act of 2026,” https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/lawler_169_xml.pdf. Rural Health Research Gateway, “Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties,” April 13, 2026, https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/708. Rural Health Research Gateway, “County-Level Differences in Health Professional Shortage Areas by Rurality, Age, and Disability Status,” April 9, 2026, https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/693. Kayla Robbins, “A Therapy Office on Wheels Is Reaching Homeless Youth Left Behind,” April 9, 2026, https://invisiblepeople.tv/a-therapy-office-on-wheels-is-reaching-homeless-youth-left-behind/. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

I am thrilled to be in the studio with today's special guest, Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, founding director at Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases.  Today we're talking about infectious disease management in rural healthcare settings. Dr. Bhadelia is here to share her perspective and insight as an infectious disease physician. We'll talk about the role hospitals play in infectious disease prevention, public trust in healthcare authorities, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.  Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahid-bhadelia-81a775b7/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/buceid/ https://www.bu.edu/ceid/

Tennessee could get about $1 billion to invest in its rural health care over the next five years. Gov. Bill Lee and his administration are drumming up excitement for the plan, which they say is an opportunity to rebuild the state's broken rural health infrastructure.But some critics are worried there may be strings attached.On today's episode of This Is Nashville, our Healthcare Hollow series continues. We're sorting through the good, the bad and the unknown in this moment of rural health transformation.Guests:Arielle Zionts, rural health correspondent, KFF Health NewsJacy Warrell, chief executive officer of the Rural Health Transformation FundJessica Snowden, pediatric infectious disease pediatrician and vice chancellor for research, University of Tennessee Health Science CenterThis episode is part of our Healthcare Hollow series, made possible, in part, by the NIHCM Foundation.

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Sabrina Ho, “NRHA Statement on the President's FY 2027 Budget Request,” April 3, 2026, https://www.ruralhealth.us/blogs/2026/04-april/nrha-statement-on-the-president%E2%80%99s-fy-2027-budget-request, National Rural Health Association. Molly Gamble, “756 hospitals at risk of closure, state by state,” December 26, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/756-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-state-by-state/, Becker's Hospital Review. Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, “Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closing,” January 2026, https://chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf.  Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga, “These Kansas elementary students dissect frogs — and it could help fight a doctor shortage,” April 7, 2026, https://www.kcur.org/health/2026-04-07/these-kansas-elementary-students-dissect-frogs-and-it-could-help-fight-a-doctor-shortage, Kansas City Public Radio. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

Atrazine contaminates U.S. water more than any pesticide. Learn why it's still used, how it harms health and fertility, and why regulators haven't stopped it. #Atrazine #EndocrineDisruptors #WaterPollution #HealthTalks

America's rural hospitals are closing at an alarming pace, and Tennessee holds the highest closure rate.In a series of reports this month, WPLN takes an in-depth look at this crisis — how it has harmed communities and what is being done to reverse course.In this episode, Health Reporter Catherine Sweeney and This Is Nashville host Blake Farmer dive into history of these closures. Then, Catherine takes us to Linden — a rural Tennessee town that lost its hospital and got it back. Finally, providers discuss what communities can do to fill in the gaps when traditional health care delivery is hard to find.This episode is part of our Healthcare Hollow series, made possible, in part, by the NIHCM Foundation.GuestsKyle Kopec, Chief Operating Officer, Braden HealthShatiqua Jamerson, Administration and Programs Coordinator, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health CenterDr. Charae Farmer-Dixon, Dean, Meharry School of Dentistry at Meharry Medical College

Rural Health Today welcomes Dr. Ross Ramsey, president and chief executive officer at Scheurer Health, as this week's guest.  In this episode we'll talk about how the trust between physicians, patients and health organizations has been fractured in rural health, and what it will take to repair that trust. Dr. Ramsey will share his perspective on how rural hospitals can build relationships with their communities and how it benefits patients to do so. We'll talk about health literacy, social determinants of health and what it all has to do with rural health. Follow Rural Health Today on social media! https://x.com/RuralHealthPod https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665  Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media! https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/  Follow our guest! https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossramsey/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/scheurerhealth/ https://www.facebook.com/ScheurerHealth

States are rolling out plans for their share of a $50 billion fund meant to improve rural health care. In some states, the money may provoke rural hospitals to cut services.

In the 2025 budget bill, Congress created the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to help struggling hospitals, doctors, and patients in rural America. But rural hospitals are expected to lose three times that through Medicaid cuts in that same budget bill. So, what will it take to keep rural healthcare afloat? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: www.wbur.org/giveonpoint