A strong health system is critical to thriving rural communities and the health of rural Kansans. <\/strong>Even before COVID-19 began surging in rural Kansas<\/a>, it was becoming more difficult to sustain health care services in a changing Kansas, where the rural health system is starved of resources with limited opportunity to innovate. (see Health Fund President David Jordan’s op-ed on three ideas on how to address rural health challenges: https:\/\/kansasreflector.com\/2020\/11\/14\/these-3-things-will-make-rural-kansas-communities-healthier\/<\/a>) <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Significant shifts in population \u2013 sharp rural depopulation and an increase in older residents – make maintaining health care and other important services in rural communities more tenuous each year. Compounding the problem is the growing number of uninsured residents in rural Kansas, driving up uncompensated care costs and changes in how and what services are delivered in rural hospitals. And finally, the current financing system restricts the ability of hospitals to adapt to the changing times. Together, these challenges threaten health care in rural Kansas communities. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In an effort to better understand and prepare for the future of rural health care in Kansas, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is partnering with Kansas Health Foundation and Kansas Hospital Association on a series of regional conversations on the future of rural health. More importantly, we want to hear Kansans’ thoughts on how to improve and sustain health care in rural communities. We hope you can join us for these meetings. View details online https:\/\/lnkd.in\/ezSKNxY<\/a> or RSVP here, https:\/\/lnkd.in\/eQaCAZP<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthfund.org\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/DowntownOberlin.png\")
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The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. David Jordan is the president of the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund<\/a>.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
During the six regional virtual events on the future of rural health, we\u2019ll discuss the challenges facing our rural health care providers and we\u2019ll explore potential solutions. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n