Rural Health: Building the Foundation for Lasting Change

With funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), states are undertaking one of the most significant transformations of rural healthcare in decades.  Success will depend not simply on funding individual initiatives, but on implementing a cohesive strategy that creates lasting capabilities across the rural health ecosystem.

Data has long been the fuel that powers health care—and that is no less true in rural health. Whether it's coordinating care, enabling timely referrals, supporting clinicians, managing population health, or measuring outcomes, success depends on trusted, timely information. Care in rural communities is often hindered because information cannot move easily among physicians, specialists, hospitals, community organizations, and other partners. Closing these gaps is one of the foundational requirements for transforming healthcare and delivering meaningful improvements in rural communities.  States must build bridges for patients and providers, connecting isolated points of care into a cohesive network.  Equally important, states need dependable, comprehensive data to monitor, administer, and report performance of programs and initiatives.   

A portfolio approach encourages states to view technology investments as part of a coordinated strategy rather than a collection of individual projects. By building shared capabilities that support multiple programs, states can reduce duplication, leverage existing infrastructure, and create technology assets that remain valuable long after RHTP funding ends.   

Presented as an informal fireside conversation among three experienced health care and government leaders—including a physician with international rural health experience and two former government executives—the session will share practical lessons and perspectives rather than product demonstrations or technical presentations. 

Participants will leave this webinar with a practical framework to: 

• Align technology with program objectives 
• Identify data and interoperability requirements 
• Evaluate existing assets 
• Prioritize technology investments 
• Improve sustainability   

The session will provide practical guidance that state leaders can apply as they plan, evaluate, and implement technology investments that strengthen rural health care for the long term. 

This vendor supported session is provided by InterSystems.  Content is structured around an operational framework and general lessons applicable across rural health programs and does not advocate for any specific vendor solution.