Cybersecurity & AI Resources for Rural Resiliency from Microsoft

Join Laura Kreofsky from Microsoft Philanthropies, who leads efforts in rural health resiliency. Laura outlines Microsoft’s initiatives to help rural hospitals strengthen cybersecurity and adopt practical AI solutions. The cybersecurity program includes free risk assessments, staff training, and nonprofit pricing for software and services. Laura also highlights the Rural Health AI Lab, developing tools like a Denials Navigator to streamline billing processes, and announces upcoming partnerships like discounted Starlink satellite services. She encourages rural healthcare professionals to take advantage of Microsoft’s educational webinars, AI training navigator, and networking through the rural health community. Video length: 30 minutes.

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

Critical Access Hospital Case Study on Recruitment & Retention

In this webinar, Rob Bloom from Wintergreen and Rich Duvall, CEO of North Star Health Alliance, explore innovative strategies to improve recruitment and retention in rural hospitals through a real-world case study focused on employee benefits. They detail how transitioning from a fully insured to a self-funded health plan can create significant cost savings, which can then be reinvested into workforce incentives like increased time off, retirement benefits, and even zero-premium health insurance. The discussion emphasizes the value of aligning HR strategy with organizational goals to build a stronger, more competitive rural health care workforce. Video length: 41 minutes.

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.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Join the Fight

In this webinar, Madison Riojas, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, shares valuable insights on antimicrobial stewardship tailored for rural providers. The presentation covers the importance of combating antibiotic resistance, utilizing resources like regional antibiograms, and implementing the CDC’s core elements for stewardship programs. Madison highlights practical strategies, such as gap analysis, optimizing vancomycin dosing, and addressing penicillin allergies while showcasing tools for tracking and reporting antibiotic use. Participants also learn about statewide trends, available resources, and actionable steps to strengthen their stewardship practices. The video runs for approximately 40 minutes.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Programs and Services

In this webinar, Shelley Gladden from Oklahoma Able Tech shares an overview of the resources and programs available to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities in Oklahoma. She explains what assistive technology (AT) is, its various forms, and how it can help people accomplish daily tasks. Shelly discusses Able Tech’s core programs, including device demonstrations, short-term loans, durable equipment exchanges, and partnerships, like the one with the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, to provide refurbished equipment at no cost. She also covers the financial loan program, digital accessibility initiatives, and the newly launched Assistive Technology Respite Kits for caregivers. Shelly provides tips on how to find funding for AT. The video runs for approximately 34 minutes.

Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Oklahoma, October 2024

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

2024 Rural Hospital CEO/CFO Webinar Series Part 4: Swing Bed Development

In the final installment of the 2024 Rural Hospital CEO/CFO Webinar Series, industry experts Jonathan Pantenburg and Nicole Thorell from Wintergreen discuss the role of swing bed programs in enhancing the financial health of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Discover how these programs boost revenue streams and ensure that quality care remains accessible to your local community.

This 37-minute session wraps up our comprehensive four-part series designed to equip rural hospital administrators with essential insights and strategies for success.

2024 Health Equity Webinar Series Part 5: Implementation & Evaluation

Lindsay Corcoran of Wintergreen joins Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health for the final installment of the 2024 Health Equity Webinar Series. In this session, Lindsay addresses the importance of sustaining key activities and measuring success and outcomes. The video runs for approximately 43 minutes.

2024 Rural Hospital CEO/CFO Webinar Series Part 3: Chronic Care Management

In the third installment of the 2024 Rural Hospital CEO/CFO Webinar Series, Nicole Thorell from Wintergreen and Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health discuss the benefits of establishing a chronic care management plan for critical access hospitals. The video runs for approximately 20 minutes and provides valuable insights into how such plans can improve patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. This installment is part of a four-part series aimed at providing crucial information and strategies for rural hospital administrators.

How to Conduct a Successful Community Health Needs Assessment

Kim Hunwardsen from Eide Bailly joins Lara Brooks to discuss strategies for hospitals to complete community health needs assessments (CHNAs) that comply with federal regulations. Her presentation emphasizes the importance of gathering comprehensive data, engaging community stakeholders, and aligning the assessment process with the requirements set by the IRS and other federal guidelines. The video runs for approximately 60 minutes.

2024 Health Equity Webinar Series Part 4: Community Collaboration

Lindsay Corcoran of Stroudwater Associates joins Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health for the fourth installment of the 2024 Health Equity Webinar Series. In this session, Lindsay discusses the importance of community collaboration and overcoming partnership barriers. The video runs for approximately 54 minutes. This is the fourth of five webinars in the series.

Oklahoma Well Owner Network Testing Program

Join Dr. Jeff Sadler from the Oklahoma Water Resources Center at OSU for an informative webinar about the Oklahoma Well Owner Network (OWON) and the importance of regular well water testing. Private well owners in Oklahoma are solely responsible for ensuring their drinking water is safe. The OWON program offers free water quality screening of household wells in collaboration with county Extension offices and other community partners. Watch the full recording (approximately 40 minutes) for valuable insights and information.

2024 Health Equity Webinar Series Part 3: Data Collection and Analysis

Lindsay Corcoran of Stroudwater Associates, joins Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health for the third installment of the 2024 Health Equity Webinar Series. In this session, Lindsay highlights the importance of health data and offers an overview of best practices in data collection. The video runs for approximately 58 minutes. This is the third of five webinars in the series.

2024 Rural Hospital CEO/CFO Webinar Series Part 2: Medicare Advantage Analysis and Strategies

Join Zach Boser from Wintergreen for an in-depth webinar on Medicare Advantage, specifically tailored for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Zach covers the fundamentals of Medicare Advantage, key strategies to optimize reimbursement and improve patient care, and the rapid growth of Medicare Advantage and its implications for rural providers. Additionally, Zach presents a detailed case study analysis by Wintergreen and shares best practices and solutions to effectively address the challenges associated with Medicare Advantage. The video runs for around 51 minutes and is the second installment of a four-part series.