SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION
In March 2018 , the Alabama Legislature charged UAB Health System with the responsibility to establish the Alabama Rural Health Collaborative ( ARHC ). Its overarching goal is to support rural administrators in stabilizing their facilities and working towards more transformative objectives . Through this work , the ARHC and the state legislature hopes to increase access to high-quality care for rural Alabamians and improve their health , at little or no cost to the participating hospitals . To date , the ARHC has 10 participating hospitals . The rural resource center is the first of its kind in the state and its operation was mandated by state legislation .
Russell Medical Retreat
With the formation of the ARHC , various programs and initiatives have been launched . These programs include price transparency compliance , a mobile clinical simulation lab , a physician needs assessment , a market area needs assessment , revenue cycle assessments , a clinical documentation improvement program , an antibiotic stewardship program , graduate student summer internships , and administrative fellowships . At the time of this writing , the ARHC is working to assist hospitals with Charge Master Review and hospital pricing analysis . We are also providing assessments for Rural Emergency Hospital ( REH ) and Critical Assess Hospital ( CAH ) designations . This report details those initiatives , in summary , timeline , and cost .
ADVISORY BOARD
The ARHC Advisory Board meets quarterly to provide oversight , to refine strategies , and to discuss current and new initiatives . Below you will find last year ’ s Advisory Board members . We thank them for their services , as we are currently in the process of adding new members .
Jane Knight Senior Vice President of Member Services
Christy Harris Lemak Chair , Department of Health Services Administration – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Amy Ellison Hospital Contracting Manager – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama
Karl Bryant FLEX / SHIP Coordinator , ADPH – Office of Primary Care & Rural Health
Niko Phillips , LPN , BBA HPSA Coordinator , ADPH – Office of Primary Care & Rural Health
Ralph Clark Health Care Administrator ( Retired )
Michael Williams Executive-in-Residence , Department of Health Services Administration – University of Alabama at Birmingham
2 Alabama Rural Health Collaborative Annual Report 2022