New York’s rural hospitals provide access to essential health care services every day to some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.  These institutions are vital to the economies of their communities, providing jobs and services that attract other businesses, visitors and residents.

Within the 32 counties of the Iroquois region, 35 members hospitals are designated as rural.  Rural hospitals are uniquely positioned to provide high-quality, patient centered care across the entire health care continuum.  These hospitals provide access to primary care, as well as emergency services and often link patients to specialized care outside of the community.  Without these hospitals, many would not have access to health care at all.

However, policies in health care payment and regulation at the federal and state level have put rural hospitals and health systems in a difficult situation where adapting to change may limit access to health care services for their communities.  Some rural hospitals are in crisis.  Federal health policy emphasizes population health and prevention, yet often fails to provide a governing framework to advance these activities at the local level.  Rural communities need support from state government and agencies in order to navigate proposals recommended at the federal level.  At the end of the day, it is crucial to assure people living in rural communities still have access to vital health care services.

Rural Health Task Force

Our rural hospitals have a unique relationship with their communities – they are the central source for local health care.  In 2016, IHA created the Rural Health Task Force to address rural health issues and develop relationships that foster the growth and sustainability of rural community providers.  The Task Force:

•  actively participate in advocacy in local, state and federal rural health policy & legislation;
• develop an IHA Rural Health Task Force legislative & regulatory agendas;
• collaborate with other organizations invested in rural health issues;
• host educational programs that bring awareness to the unique health care challenges facing New York State’s rural communities;
• serve in an advisory capacity for local, state and federal officials regarding issues impacting rural hospitals;
• engage stakeholders in strategic planning on the future of healthcare in rural areas of New York.

Rural Hospital Resources

IHA has developed and collected resources to help rural hospitals better meet the needs of their communities:

New York State Association for Rural Health

AHA Section for Small and Rural Hospitals  (American Hospital Association)

HRSA Rural Health  (Health Resources and Services Administration)

National Rural Development Partnership  (United States Department of Agriculture)

National Rural Health Resources Center  (Nonprofit Organization)

National Rural Health Association  (Nonprofit Organization)

Rural Assistance Center (Health and Human Services Information for Rural America)

Rural Health Information Center  (United States Department of Agriculture)

Rural Health Research Gateway  (Office of Rural Health Policy)

U.S. Census Urban and Rural Classification

Rural Health Research Centers  The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) currently funds 7 rural health research centers.