AI in Rural Health: Data, insights, and discussion on AI's growing role in rural hospital operations

How are urban and rural hospitals adopting and using artificial intelligence? And what factors are shaping AI adoption in rural hospitals?

In this recorded webinar, Dr. Brian Whitacre, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, shares recent data on AI adoption, use, and evaluation across hospitals—including a real-world case study of AI in action, followed by an engaging Q&A and discussion with participants.

In this webinar:

• New insights into AI adoption in urban and rural hospitals
•  Key factors influencing AI adoption in rural communities
• A real-world AI case study
• Audience discussion and Q&A

Watch to learn what the data is telling us about the future of AI in rural healthcare.

Video length: 40 minutes.

Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Oklahoma, September 2026

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

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

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

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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 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.

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 Health Equity Webinar Series Part 2: Strategy

Lindsay Corcoran of Stroudwater Associates, joins Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health for the second installment of the 2024 Health Equity Webinar Series. Lindsay discusses the importance of integrating health equity into an organization’s strategy and explores approaches to prioritize health equity as a strategic objective. The video is approximately 58 minutes long. This is the second installment of a five-part webinar series.

2024 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Site Certification Process

Jana Castleberry and Melanie Reese from the Oklahoma Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development join Lara Brooks to discuss the upcoming National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site certification. The wide-ranging discussion includes information about the primary care health professional shortage area (HPSA) designation process, the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, OK Health Corps, J-1 Visa Waivers, and the Conrad 30 Waiver program. The recording lasts approximately 53 minutes.

Economic Impact of a Rural Health Clinic

Staff from the OSU Center of Rural Health, Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, along with faculty from the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics presented a research poster at the National Rural Health Association's 47th Annual Rural Health Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The poster examined the economic impact of federally designated rural health clinics (RHC) in Oklahoma.

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

2024 Health Equity Webinar Series Part 1: Overview

Lindsay Corcoran of Stroudwater Associates, joins Lara Brooks from the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health for the first installment of the 2024 Health Equity Webinar Series. Lindsay presents a general overview of health equity, social determinants of health, and new CMS health equity measures for rural providers. The video lasts approximately 43 minutes.

This is the 1st installment of a 5 part webinar series.

Oklahoma Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program Overview

Nicole Neilson joins Lara Brooks to provide an overview of Oklahoma AHEC's efforts to strengthen the health care workforce in Oklahoma through recruitment, training, and retention of health professionals committed to practicing in underserved urban and rural communities. Ms. Neilson also discusses the AHEC Scholars program. The recording lasts approximately 26 minutes.

Oklahoma Office of Primary Care & Rural Health Development Overview

Jana Castleberry and Melanie Reese from the Oklahoma Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development join Lara Brooks to provide an overview of their office. The wide-ranging discussion includes information about the primary care health professional shortage area (HPSA) designation process, the National Health Service Core (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program, OK Health Corps, J-1 Visa Waivers, and the Conrad 30 Waiver program. The recording lasts approximately 37 minutes.

Indexed Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates by Geography for Oklahomans Age 25 to 64 (2016-2020)

Oklahoma 3RNET Overview

Mark Barclay from 3RNET demonstrates the organization's healthcare worker recruitment platform for rural and underserved communities. The Oklahoma Office of Rural Health maintains a subscription to 3RNET, allowing Oklahoma-based hospitals and clinics free access to the platform. The video lasts approximately 25 minutes.

2023 RHC Webinar Series Part 4: Expanding Access to Specialty Provider Services

Gregory Wolf and Zach Boser of Wintergreen discuss different models of specialty care delivery and the operational and financial considerations of each. The recording lasts approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes. This is the 4th webinar in a 4 part series for rural health clinics.

Know Your Value: Regional Collaboration and Competition

Gregory Wolf and Zach Boser of Wintergreen discuss how rural healthcare providers can develop collaborative networks and partnerships to optimize access and deliver high-quality care. The recording lasts approximately 54 minutes. This is the 8th webinar in a 9-part series geared towards rural hospital CEOs and CFOs.