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AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack Feb. 17 kicked off the virtual AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference by welcoming more than 900 rural hospital and health system leaders and trustees.

Pollack emphasized the need for COVID-19 response and relief to give hospitals and health systems the flexibility to respond in a quick and decisive manner; recovery, which requires a tough balancing act of coexisting with COVID-19, treating sick patients and staying financially viable; and rebuilding, which asks health care leaders for lessons learned to help inform the road forward.

AHA Board Chair Rod Hochman, M.D., CEO of Providence, underscored the unique circumstances rural hospitals and health systems have faced in the past year amidst the global health pandemic. He highlighted the remote capabilities offered as a result that still allow patients to get the expert care they need close to home.

“Without a doubt the pandemic has tested our nation and our health care system, but we are inspired every day by the incredible dedication of our caregivers,” Hochman said. “I’m confident we’ll come through this experience stronger, with new innovations and improvements for the health care experience.”

Watch the video clip for more highlights.