Description:
The Tennessee Health Care Campaign Rural Health Equity team convened a panel of rural health experts and conducted several listening sessions and interviews with stakeholders from 2018 to 2020 in order to better understand the context leading up to rural hospital closures, the effects they have on the surrounding communities, and the potential ways to prevent or mitigate these effects on communities. The team learned that this is a multifaceted problem which necessitates a tailored response from communities, who must involve key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels. This is not a “one and done” deal and requires ongoing engagement in order to proactively respond to the ever-present shifts in the health care landscape.

Learning Objectives:

Following this presentation, participants will understand:

1. The extent and impact of rural hospital closures in Tennessee
2. How community engagement is requisite to addressing rural health inequities
3. Policy recommendations meant to reduce inequities and improve access to needed healthcare services in rural communities
4. Resources available for rural communities who face a potential hospital closure. 

View recording here.
Resources for Rural Communities