1 BIG THING: Historic AHA Leadership Visit
The Utah Hospital Association’s Annual Fall Learning Conference in Midway welcomed Rick Pollack, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association — marking the first time in more than 25 years an AHA president has attended a UHA conference in Utah.
Pollack joined UHA President & CEO Francis Gibson for substantive discussions on healthcare challenges facing hospitals both nationally and in Utah.
- Their conversation centered on the “big, beautiful bill” and collaborative approaches to industry challenges
- The notable visit highlighted shared concerns between national and local healthcare leadership
RURAL HEALTHCARE SPOTLIGHT
The conference brought together leaders from nearly all 21 of Utah’s rural hospitals through the Rural Nine Network and Rural Hospital Council.
- Behavioral health access emerged as the top concern among rural facilities
- Solutions discussed included expanding tele-psychiatry services
- Participants emphasized strengthening follow-up care for patients after emergency room visits
- The Rural Nine Network facilitated targeted discussions addressing unique rural challenges
THE BOTTOM LINE: The conference successfully united hospital leaders to address critical healthcare issues affecting Utah facilities, with the unprecedented presence of national leadership creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue on shared healthcare challenges.