Professionals from rural hospitals across Oklahoma convened at the sixth annual Oklahoma Rural Hospital Conference held in Midwest City April 15 and 16 to address the issues facing hospitals in rural and underserved areas throughout the state.

Co-sponsored by the OSU Rural Health Policy and Research Center, Office of Rural Health, Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality and the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma, the conference brought together nearly 300 healthcare professionals.

Bob Thompson, CEO of Mercy Memorial Health Center, provided a keynote address about building quality through relationships. Other speakers provided in-depth information about grants, ideas for acquiring capital for healthcare infrastructure improvements, electronic health records, Indian Health Services hospital billing issues, health care worker shortages and health reform initiatives in Oklahoma. Darlene Bainbridge spoke to conference attendees about how to improve quality in their facilities and get the board involved.

“We are encouraged by the progress Oklahoma hospitals are making and want to continue this annual conference in an effort to improve health care for individuals in rural and underserved communities,” said conference organizer Corie Kaiser, with the OSU Center for Rural Health.

Presentations from conference speakers are available at www.ofmq.com/rural-hospital-conference