HJAR Jan/Feb 2025

10 JAN / FEB 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Right now, about 28 critical access hospi- tals (CAHs) are spread out across the state, each facing its own unique mix of geo- graphic and demographic hurdles. Despite these challenges, they share a common purpose: to provide quality and accessible care to communities that often have lim- ited resources. They’re true cornerstones of healthcare in Arkansas, and collaboration between both rural and urban providers will be key to moving forward. Editor How do rural health outcomes in Arkansas compare to its urban centers? What are today’s biggest rural health challenges for patients and caregivers? Boagni The rural challenges for patients and caregivers — lack of access to specialty physicians, transportation, healthy food, preventative services, mental and behavioral health services, OB/GYN services, childcare, and exercise facilities — reflect the prevalence of health conditions and diseases in rural communities. Rural communities in Arkansas tend to have worse health outcomes than urban areas. Conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and COPD are more com- mon partly because preventive care, healthy food, and specialty services can be harder to find or get to. When you live far from a hospital or don’t have reliable transporta- tion, it’s all too easy to skip appointments or wait until things get really serious. Patients and caregivers face multi- ple hurdles, and they all blend together. Access is a major barrier, with many rural residents traveling significant distances to see specialists or receive advanced care. Even if services are available nearby, has obtained over 67 million dollars in grant funds and continues to grow inmembership and services. I serve in the UAMS Office of Strategy, bridging the resources of a major aca- demic medical center with the needs of rural Arkansas. That connection proved invalu- able during COVID, when we quickly pro- vided specialized training and education to rural healthcare workers. The Rural HealthAssociation of Arkansas (RHAA) is the state rural health association with the mission of serving rural healthcare organizations across the state as an advo- cacy organization for their benefit. Arkan- sas was one of six states in the county that did not have a state rural health associa- tion. I was part of a team of several stake- holders that assisted in forming this orga- nization in 2020. It has over 300 members statewide and another vehicle to fund rural health. ARHP is the managing organization for RHAA, but RHAA is an entirely indepen- dent organization with its own board. It seems like a lot, but when it comes to rural healthcare, we all have to work together. I’d like to say that I work for Arkansas rural healthcare. Editor Can you describe the current state of rural healthcare in Arkansas? Boagni Arkansas’s rural healthcare landscape is dynamic, complex, and in the midst of significant change. Of our 75 counties, 52 to 58 are considered rural depending on which federal definition you use — like RUCC, RUCA, or HRSA. That means over two-thirds of our counties meet the criteria for “rural,”which in turn affects how programs and funding are allocated. Dianne Hartley, Editor Thanks for taking the time to discuss the rural health situation in Arkansas. You wear a lot of hats: president and CEO of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, regional director for the UAMS Office of Strategy, and executive director of the Rural Health Association of Arkansas. What are the missions of these associations, and what inspired you to get involved in rural health advocacy? Mellie Boagni I was born and raised in rural Louisiana and moved to the Arkansas Delta region — Lake Village — in 2002. The healthcare community has always been a part of my life through family, friends, and neighbors. I had always admired their hard work and dedication to the communities they served. I was also aware of the barriers they faced with getting resources to help them provide quality care to their patients. While I had no healthcare background, I knew a little about grant writing, which allowed me to help get those resources where they needed to go — to rural Arkansas. Advocacy is in my blood. I come from a long line of Louisiana politicians. Rural healthcare just became my thing. I have worked for UAMS for 17 years. UAMS allowed me to “venture off” the beaten path to form the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) — a completely independent nonprofit organization owned by 19 rural hospitals, four federally quali- fied health centers (FQHCs), and the three medical schools in Arkansas, which was formed in 2008 with five rural hospitals. ARHP is rural-owned, rural-driven, and rural-focused on bringing resources to the member healthcare organizations and rural residents across the state. This organization Editor's Note: We had a moment to pick the brain of HJAR’s newest columnist, Mellie Boagni, president and CEO of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, regional director for the UAMS Office of Strategy Management, and executive director of the Rural Health Association of Arkansas. Boagni will spearhead HJAR’s new “Rural Health” column in the next issue. Many of you are already familiar with Boagni’s extensive efforts to advocate for rural healthcare across the state. Being in a rural area complicates healthcare efforts and presents challenges for everyone involved. As we begin what will be an exciting year in healthcare, we wanted to share Boagni’s perspective in hopes of improving outcomes for all Arkansans.