Last month, regular H&HN Daily contributor Ian Morrison wrote a compelling column (aren't they all?) on reinventing rural health. In it he discussed the multitude of challenges facing rural providers — staff shortages, payer mix, capital and IT gaps, and more. The column also spends a fair amount of time discussing the hurdles rural providers will face as we move to a value-based, accountable care system.
In a bit of an understatement, he wrote: "Rural health is tough to manage, from both a policy and practical point of view." But he's then quick to note: "As we redesign the overall health care delivery system from volume to value, we raise the question of what happens to rural health care. While the challenges described here are real, in my travels I detect a growing openness to reinvention of rural health among community leaders and hospital CEOs across the country."
I couldn't agree more. I'm always amazed by the can-do attitude exhibited by rural health care leaders. They approach the hurdles in front of them head on, knowing that in so many cases they are the lifelines of their communities. That's part of the reason that I'm eager to board a plane Saturday afternoon and head to Phoenix for the 25th Annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference. Year in, year out, it is one of my favorite meetings (and I'm not just saying that because it's our meeting).
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