Conference keynote encourages 500+ attendees to create healthy rural economies
Mark Drabenstott, PhD, used his platform at the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences to motivate attendees to go back to their rural communities and use theirs. “You care about the health of your region. You have the perfect platform on which to stand and to convene people,” said the Global Trust for Regional Innovation and Investment chairman. “No one is better suited than the leaders in this room to make a huge difference in rural economic health.” It’s time to think big, he told the more than 500 rural health leaders gathered in Austin, Texas, this week. “There are opportunities you will unlock when you collaborate regionally that you’ll never discover working county-by-county,” Drabenstott said. “Engaging in regional economic thinking has the potential to transform the rural economic landscape. You must think regional, not just your rural health care delivery area.” Nothing affects rural clinics and hospitals more than the economic health of their regions, he said. “You must insist on something better,” Drabenstott said. “You’re not interested in Band-aids. You’re interested in long-term solutions that work. That’s a core strength of rural America. Rural Americans take the long view. Rural Americans believe if you work hard and save, good will come from that investment.” It’s important to focus investments on the region’s competitive strengths, he explained. “How you create a consensus on these is an art form because there are not enough funds in rural America for everything,” Drabenstrott advised. “You understand health care is all about innovation. You must also create a culture of innovation to build a healthy rural economy. You’re in a good position to bring the right minds together. Your boards represent the best and brightest in the area. You must nurture regional leadership and build a home for it to thrive.” He said rural leaders need to recognize that the competition isn’t the next county seat but rather Southeast Asia. “How we adjust our thinking to pool the best we have is really the solution,” he said. “The same way you diagnose health conditions, you need to diagnose your region’s economic future.”