Podcasts: LIVE from NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference

Podcast: MEDHOST Talks Trends and Challenges at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference

Welcome, guest of honor! Join the conversation with your fellow healthcare colleagues as we record live from the nation's largest rural health conference.

If you were unable to attend or want to expand on what you learned, these off-the-cuff interviews are a valued add-on to your continued education.

Director of the Louisiana State Office of Rural Health Tracie Ingram visits us in the podcast lounge at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference to describe her experiences collaborating with federal agencies to develop healthcare solutions for rural communities. She emphasizes that a deep understanding of rural communities is crucial to meeting their healthcare needs, and touches on rural healthcare provider's need for effective, data-driven storytelling.

Macarena Garcia, Senior Health Scientist at US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sits down with us in the podcast lounge at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference to break down a forthcoming CDC report detailing the five leading causes of death, and how they affect rural and urban areas differently. She explains why rural areas are disproportionately at risk for preventable deaths, and urges rural health advocates to use this information to tailor solutions to each unique rural community.

Jac Davies, executive director of the Northwest Rural Health Network, joins us in the podcast lounge at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference to advocate partnership with philanthropies to build healthcare capacity in rural communities. She underscores the strengths of rural communities and shares her belief in passionate rural healthcare providers that can grow together through collaboration.

Ryan Kelly, executive director of the Mississipi and Alabama Rural Health Associations, stops by the podcast lounge at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference to unpack the infrastructure challenges facing rural healthcare today. He also shares his hopes for Mississippi's new rural health task force and emphasizes the potential of telehealth to address the needs of rural communities.

NRHA CEO Alan Morgan visits us in the podcast lounge at NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference to reflect upon the inspiration and energy the conference brings to the rural healthcare community. He also touches on NRHA's Rural Health Fellows Program, which is dedicated to cultivating the national rural health leaders of tomorrow.

Virginia Rural Health Association Executive Director Beth O'Connor sat down with us in the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to dive into one of the biggest challenges facing rural healthcare today: the opioid crisis. She explains how innovative approaches to patient education are key to combatting the crisis and shares a success story from her own organization.

MEDHOST President and CFO Ken Misch spends some time with us in the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference explaining his passion for rural healthcare. He spotlights the good work already being done at rural hospitals across the country while urging rural healthcare providers to evolve beyond traditional care models in order to meet the needs of their communities.

Legato Healthcare Marketing President Mike Milligan sits down with us in the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to unpack how rural hospitals can develop a marketing strategy that empowers them to thrive. He also underscores the potential for growth in the rural healthcare market and emphasizes that innovative, data-driven marketing can transform the ways rural healthcare organizations serve their communities.

CEO of Administrative Executive Healthcare Services John Parigi stops by the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to share his experiences in hospital administration and to advocate for the power of collaboration in rural healthcare. He explains how collaboration can address the knowledge gaps of rural hospitals and equip rural healthcare providers to serve their communities more effectively.

Beth Vanderwalker, vice president of operations at Worldwide Health Staff Solutions, stops by the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to recount how her experiences as a rural nurse have helped her understand the access barriers facing rural communities in need of quality healthcare. She also highlights the nursing and staffing shortages facing communities across the country and illustrates the need to incentivize healthcare professionals to work where they are needed most.

Blue Mountain Hospital CEO Jeremy Lyman joins us in the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to break down the financial challenges facing rural hospitals today. He also discusses the far-reaching impact that hospital closures and reductions of health services can have upon rural communities, and emphasizes that a passion for the community is at the heart of successful rural hospitals.

Kim Mohan, executive director of the New England Rural Health Association, joins us in the podcast lounge at NHRA’s Annual Rural Health Conference to share how her experience growing up in rural New Hampshire shaped her healthcare advocacy. She discusses the unique challenges posed by rural healthcare and the potential of rural communities to create innovative solutions. She also shares how the Telehealth Resource Center has both transformed the patient experience in rural New England and created unintended challenges for care providers.

Data Complete Vice President Pierce Mooney sits down with us in the podcast lounge at NHRA's Annual Rural Health Conference to explain the gaps that often occur in data transfer between rural healthcare providers. He also shares his optimism that data science can enable rural healthcare providers to care for their patients more effectively.