Rural Health Leaders Overcoming Challenges with Alan Morgan, Kathy Kuepers and Steve Tenhouse

In the What’s Your Impact special episode supported by Wipfli, Michelle begins the episode with Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). This discussion, recorded just one day after the White House announced news about a dynamic partnership designed to provide support to combat cyber-attacks, focuses on how cybersecurity impacts health systems, as well as solutions. Alan shares details about the important partnership NRHA entered into with Microsoft to provide free technical analysis and reasonably priced products to safeguard rural hospitals against growing cyber security threats.

In the second part of this episode, Michelle speaks to rural health leaders making an incredible impact on their critical access hospitals and communities, Kathy Kuepers and Steve Tenhouse. Steve has spent the last 22 years, serving the past 19 as CEO, at Kirby Medical Center; an independent, not-for-profit, critical access hospital located in Monticello, Illinois. Kathy Kuepers, CEO of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette in Darlington, Wisconsin since 2018, has over four decades of experience in the healthcare industry, including 18 years as a clinical nurse.

In this discussion Steve, Kathy, and Michelle discuss several factors that influence a rural health organization’s growth and vitality, as well as discuss the vision and challenges that come with a replacement facility project. Also covered is trust building and stakeholder engagement, operational excellence and financial confidence, as well as building a thriving brand. They also share what is in their advocates toolkit, and how they engage with those who represent their service area.