Michelle Hood, executive vice-president of AHA and COO, hosted a round table with Chris Hasse, administrative director, Mayo Clinic Health System, and Julie Yaroch, Do, President, Promodica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital in Adrian, Michigan, about the future of the future of rural hospitals and health care. The vast discussion has largely focused on the importance of rural health care, technology and community collaboration.
Hasse gave the example of a premature baby born at 23 weeks in an unused rural clinic to manage such a premature birth. Due to their ENICU program, an specialist in the factory guided the team remotely through delivery while a helicopter was on the way to transport mom and baby in a greater installation. “Each year, we celebrate the birthday (from the little girl) to the clinic,” he said. “Digital technology can help us reach patients.”
That said, Hasse warned against becoming too dependent on technology and remote charts, “we must wonder what is the problem that we are trying to solve and really adopt an approach based on evidence.”
Yaroch explained how collaborations with community partners improve relationships with potential patients, whether it is about dealing with health problems, food insecurity or other problems. “Collaborations show that we care beyond the possibility of making a diagnosis and treatment,” she said.
Yaroch also explained how to effectively contact governments of states and premises. “They need to hear our history,” she said. “We must share examples of experiences on how dollars (Medicare and Medicaid) are used to keep the installations open; How they are used to touching the lives of patients. “”
In his introductory comments, Marc Boom, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Houston Methodist and elected president of the Board of Directors of AHA, told participants that it was a unique moment for rural hospitals and Health care systems.
“Never waste a moment in the watershed,” he said. “Take these obstacles and transform them into your strengths.”