2023 National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has recently updated its Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. This update reflects changes in population, development, and community characteristics over the past decade. Below the map, you will find a table listing the 11 counties in Oklahoma that changed classification between 2013 and 2023.

Click the image to open the map as a PDF document.

County	2023 Classification	2013 Classification
Creek County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Garfield County	Small metro	Micropolitan
Le Flore County	Noncore	Medium metro
Okmulgee County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Osage County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Pawnee County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Rogers County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Sequoyah County	Small metro	Medium metro
Tulsa County	Large central metro	Medium metro
Wagoner County	Large fringe metro	Medium metro
Washita County	Micropolitan	Noncore

Oklahoma Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Access Program (OKCAPMAP)

Join Christina Brandt and Dr. Sarah Coffey from the OSU Center for Health Sciences as they introduce the Oklahoma Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Access Program (OKCAPMAP). This webinar addresses the statewide need for pediatric mental health services, highlights statistics on youth suicide rates in Oklahoma, and discusses how OKCAPMAP supports primary care providers with psychiatric consultation, medication guidance, and referral resources. Learn about ADHD diagnosis and treatment, crisis response, and how OKCAPMAP is bridging gaps in child mental health care. Video length: 59 minutes

Employee Investment Benchmarks

Join Rob Bloom and Brett Shippee as they dive into employee investment benchmarks and strategies to become the employer of choice in today’s competitive job market. This webinar explores key recruitment and retention challenges across various clinical, IT, and finance roles while offering data-driven insights into compensation, benefits, PTO, student loan forgiveness, and deferred compensation. Learn how strategic investments in health insurance and retirement plans can help rural healthcare facilities attract and retain top talent. Stay tuned for part two on March 12th, where we'll look deeper into healthcare cost-saving strategies. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights! Video length: 34 minutes.

Enhancing Patient Interactions and Optimizing Point-of-Service Collections in Rural Healthcare

Effective point-of-service collections are critical for the financial health of any healthcare organization. In this training session, Darren Cook—an industry expert with over 25 years of experience—breaks down proven strategies to improve collections, enhance patient interactions, and navigate common challenges in medical billing. Learn how to boost revenue, streamline processes, and create a more sustainable financial future for your practice. Watch now to gain valuable insights and practical tips you can implement immediately. Video length: 59 minutes.

Medicare Advantage: Internal Strategies

Join representatives from Wintergreen as they discuss Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and strategies to address their challenges. Topics include the growth of MA plans, their impact on rural healthcare, administrative complexities like prior authorizations and denials, and opportunities to optimize hospital operations and revenue cycles. The discussion highlights collaboration between clinical and financial teams, robust documentation practices, and effective contract negotiations to improve reimbursement and care delivery. Don't miss the practical insights and Q&A at the end, featuring tips on clinical documentation education and navigating payer relationships. Video length: 51 minutes.

Medicare Advantage: Financial Impact and External Strategies

In this video, representatives from Wintergreen explore the critical topic of Medicare Advantage and its growing impact on healthcare systems, particularly in rural America. The discussion examines the exponential growth of Medicare Advantage plans, their financial implications for hospitals, and the strategies to address these challenges. Topics covered include external strategies such as lobbying, contract management, and opting out of Medicare Advantage altogether, along with data from Oklahoma hospitals and the broader national landscape. Follow along as they analyze potential solutions and invite collaborative discussion in anticipation of the follow-up session on internal strategies, scheduled for January 15th, 2025. Don’t miss this insightful session! The video runs approximately 29 minutes.

Renal Disease Overview

Betsy Graham-Mueller, Senior Medical Science Liaison at CorMedix provides a comprehensive overview of renal disease, focusing on chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and dialysis-related complications. The session highlights disparities in renal health for rural populations, the importance of early detection and treatment, and strategies to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). Betsy also discusses practical prevention methods, such as infection control protocols and patient-first approaches, to improve outcomes for high-risk individuals. The video runs for approximately 33 minutes.