Jarrard Associate Vice Presidents Mandi Kane and Travis Dray attended the 2026 National Rural Health Association Conference. These are their key takeaways.
EVENT: National Rural Health Association Annual Conference
WHERE & WHEN: San Diego, California | May 19 – 22, 2026
Last week, rural health leaders and providers came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in expanding access to, and advancing the quality of, healthcare in rural communities across the United States. The conference included a variety of different sessions on policy, delivery and health equity.
The Jarrard team attended a variety of sessions and gleaned these six insights:
- Healthcare continues to evolve, rapidly. We all know this, but the rate of change is exponential and impacting everything from policy and reimbursement rates to technology and patient expectations. Rural providers must continue to be agile, decisive and willing to rethink old approaches in order to succeed.
- Healthcare is local. We say this all the time, but the conference reiterated the increasingly important role of local politics, community relationships and regional realities. While strong relationships in Washington D.C. matter, don’t underestimate the importance of your state legislature, local elected officials, large employers and other community leaders and advocates. They’re often trusted voices.
- Unprecedented environments require unprecedented solutions. Traditional approaches to growth, workforce, care delivery and community partnerships may no longer be enough. Many rural providers are being forced to think differently and more creatively about sustainability and access. This trend is reflected in the Rural Health Transformation Program, which has awarded funding to innovative projects designed to improve rural health.
- AI is no longer theoretical. Rural health systems and hospitals are actively exploring how AI can improve efficiency, advance care and solve for the workforce needs that are unique to rural communities. Rural providers need to consider how to share their AI story both inside and outside their organizations in a way that builds trust and affirms human connection.
- There’s power in breaking bread. Some of the most meaningful conversations can be the simplest activity. In a rapidly changing and highly polarized environment, sitting down for a meal can be a highly effective way to build and strengthen relationships and move things forward.
- The narrative needs to change. The narrative around rural health care must change. Too often, rural health systems are defined by financial pressures, workforce shortages and concerns about sustaining specialty services. While these challenges are real, they do not define rural hospitals. Rural health systems do not need to be told how to solve their problems; they need the resources and funding to implement the solutions they have already developed.
We continue to be inspired by the resilience and creative solutions being deployed by rural healthcare providers to ensure communities have the care they need, when they need it, close to home.
Contact us at Jarrard’s Public, Community & Rural Health Systems Practice to learn how we can help you strengthen relationships and shape perception of your organization.
