(Nov. 21, 2025) – The Kansas Hospital Association and members celebrated National Rural Health Day this week at the Rural Health Symposium in Hays. The program, featuring numerous members and speakers, inspired collaboration, sparked innovation and highlighted how we are strengthening care in Kansas communities.
Thank you to the individuals from Coffey County Hospital in Burlington who shared how they partner on community health with county leaders, public health, emergency services and other local agencies. The practical strategies they shared for improving communication, fostering trust and building a united approach to rural health challenges were excellent best practices. I am glad we were able to highlight them.
Key findings from the recent KHA Productivity Study offered a clear view of trends and benchmarks across Kansas hospitals. The study helped hospitals gain insights and identify areas for improvement to strengthen workforce planning, budgeting and overall operations, all while maintaining high-quality care.
Brock Slabach from the National Rural Health Association provided members with an update on federal rural health policy and advocacy efforts. He highlighted recent legislative developments, funding opportunities and key advocacy priorities impacting rural providers and communities, including the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Key emergency preparedness lessons from the March 2025 dust storm on I-70 were shared, highlighting how rural professionals managed this complex response and the lessons learned. This diverse panel, including representatives from hospitals, coalitions and the highway patrol, discussed coordination among agencies, strategies for handling surge capacity and the importance of quick decisions with limited resources.
The Rural Health Symposium importantly provided education on staffing challenges that threaten the long-term sustainability in rural areas. Practical, evidence-based strategies to improve employee retention in today's evolving health care workforce were shared. Networking roundtables, connecting with peers and celebrating the strength of rural Kansas hospitals made this an impactful event. Thank you to all our members who attended.
We also shared yesterday that KHA's Jennifer Findley was honored by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health for her outstanding contributions to rural health care. She was nominated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and was one of 47 individuals recognized nationwide. Congratulations, Jennifer!
--Chad Austin