Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health
Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health
AHA Knowledge Exchange
Mitigating gaps in rural health resources and the workforce
Rural residents’ top three health concerns are mental health, substance-use disorders and health care access, according to the Rural Healthy People 2030 survey. Geographical isolation, inadequate health infrastructure and a shortage of health professionals can result in poor health outcomes in rural settings. These challenges impact rural communities and residents’ well-being both physically and emotionally. Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) can bridge these gaps in innovative ways to make health care services more accessible in rural communities and support economic stability. This Knowledge Exchange e-book provides insights on how rural health care leaders envision using technology and innovation to address these issues, as well as transform their organizations and community engagement.
10 strategies and technology investments rural health leaders prioritize to attract clinicians and expand health services in their communities
- Communicate and commit to a digital health vision in the hospital strategic plan and educate the community on specifics being implemented and the big picture.
- Form an interdisciplinary digital health and AI steering committee with an executive sponsor to vet technology and look at each solution for security, ethics and operational issues.
- Partner with specialty programs such as teleneonatal intensive care, teleneuro and telepharmacy. Collaborate with other hospitals and emergency medical service providers.
- Work on processes that can be repeatable and scalable for clinical workflows and claims processing.
- Select AI technology designed to fit easily into clinical teams’ day-to-day workflows inside the electronic health record and does not detract from patient-clinician interactions.
- Address nursing shortages with virtual integrated nursing care models. Use team models for inpatient rounding to improve patient experience.
- Create a telepsychiatry hub for perinatal patients. Offer virtual medical and behavioral health services in schools.
- Develop patient education materials and videos using AI tools to address the health literacy gap.
- Pilot AI programs like MindUP, Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid to expand access to vital assessments.
- Use Findhelp or Unite Us to connect the hospital and clinics to community-based organizations.
Participants
Trent Bourland
CEO
Coal County General Hospital
Melanie Boyd
CEO
Clarke County Hospital
Jeremy P. Davis, MHA
President and CEO
Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics
Landon M. Dybdal
CEO
Lake Health District
Laura Kreofsky
Director, Rural Health Resiliency
Microsoft
Corey G. Lively
CEO
Great Plains Regional Medical Center
Carrie Lutz, R.N.
CEO
Holton Community Hospital
Teresa Mallett, MHA
CEO
Madison Regional Health System
Holly McCormack, DNP, R.N.
President and CEO
Cottage Hospital
Dora Anne Mills, M.D., MPH, FAAP
Chief health improvement officer
MaineHealth
Gratia L. Pitcher, M.D., MBA
Chief medical officer and Patient experience dyad leader
Essentia Health
Olivia Sweetnam, MPH, MSN, ACNP-BC
CEO
Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital
Tony Torres, M.D., FACP
President and CEO
Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center
Josiah Ward, D.O., FAAP
Chief medical officer
La Esperanza Clinic
William (Bill) Weeks, M.D., PhD, MBA
Director, AI for Health
Microsoft
Doug Wehrman, PT, DPT
Chief operating officer
Brodstone Healthcare
Moderator:
Suzanna Hoppszallern
Senior Editor, Center for Health Innovation
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