CEO Update: The Forum is Almost Here!
We are now only 2 weeks away from CRHC’s Annual Rural Clinic’s Forum Conference. I can hardly believe we are that close to April. For those of you that don’t know, the Forum is a conference that is dedicated to Rural Health Clinics and designed to bring impactful education. This year we are at a new location – the Hyatt Regency Aurora where we’ll also be for our Annual Conference in the fall (October 4-6).
We are so excited about the agenda for the Forum this year. Wellness and Wellbeing is top of mind for everyone after the past 3 years of the pandemic. We understand that individuals are experiencing burnout at rates never experienced before in our lifetime and that’s why we have a Keynote presentation focused on the topic spoke from the perspective of one of our own family physicians at a RHC in Colorado:
“Wellness and Wellbeing, a Systems Based Approach” – Professionals in our Medical System are experiencing burnout at alarming rates, affecting the health of our rural communities and workforce availability. The best approach for some time has been focused on Mindfulness and Personal Resilience. But let’s explore an introduction into a different approach, a Systems Based Approach, touching on clinical efficiency and team based care.
Dr Alan-Michael Vargas is a specialty trained Family Medicine Physician. Dr. Vargas is devoted to the rural community at Grand River Health in Rifle, CO and was awarded as Colorado Family Physician of the Year in 2020. He has servs on the Board of the Colorado Rural Health Center since 2017 and as our past Board Chair in 2020 and 2021. He also has remained active in the Physician community serving on the Board for the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians since 2016 and as their Secretary Treasurer since 2019. He remains passionate for leading Wellness and Wellbeing in the Medical Field through team-based approaches to efficiency, systemic changes, and advocacy efforts.
As the Public Health Emergency nears its end, we know that the unwinding of expanded Medicaid coverage under the PHE is concerning. Kim Bimestefer, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing will share more information about how rural facilities can help “Keep Coloradans Covered” as the federal public health emergency Medicaid continuous coverage ends. Additionally, this presentation will share state partnership opportunities to support rural health care and help keep care local for rural patients. Finally, this presentation will highlight other state priorities of interest to rural health care providers.
Policy and Advocacy efforts both at the State and National level are more important than ever. The National Association for Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will be providing a Washington Update. Specifically, Nathan Baugh, the Executive Director for NARHC, will take stock of the latest health policy trends such as telehealth and care management and learn how the RHC program fits uniquely into these programs. He’ll review the top federal policy priorities and discuss how we can make positive changes for the RHC program.
Additionally, you’ll find presentations addressing mental health, workforce, equity, compliance, regulations, rural programs, health information technology and of course lots of opportunities for networking and fun!!!
If you haven’t registered yet sign up here https://coruralhealth.org/theforum
