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By Elena Cleaves, Staff Writer
GET LINK'D 2021
MRHA CONFERENCE
FEATURES EXPERTS AND SHOWCASES
The 2021 Get Link'd Missouri Rural Health Conference is a
crash-course in innovations improving access barriers to
quality health care in rural communities. The conference will
be held in person August 17-19, 2021, at the Old Kinderhook
Lodge in Camdenton, Mo. Attendees can expect keynote
speakers from national health associations, interactive
breakout sessions, networking opportunities, a vendor
product exhibit, among other exciting events.
Get Link'd was developed four years ago through a
collaborative partnership between the Missouri Department
of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Primary Care
Association (MPCA), Missouri Health Association (MHA), and
Missouri Rural Health Association (MRHA). According to
MRHA Director Melissa Van Dyne, the partners decided to
combine their respective individual rural health conferences.
"Even though we might address health issues differently,
there is still an overarching bigger picture and safety net for
our rural health providers," Van Dyne said. "We wanted to
make sure we address all the different angles."
Who will be there?
According to Van Dyne, the intended attendees for this
conference are anyone and everyone with a stake in rural
health and the social determinants of health. Expected
audiences consist of hospitals, clinicians, physicians, federally
qualified health centers, health departments, in-home and
community frontline workers, community and social
agencies, policymakers, CEOs, CFOs, transportation and
ambulance professionals, insurance and investment brokers,
health law attorneys, among other professionals. "Everyone
is trying to collaborate and focus on what we can do to
increase access to quality care in rural areas," said Van
Dyne.
While the conference is rural-focused, the information
available can benefit everybody. Rural areas face unique
barriers to healthcare access including geographic and
transportation barriers, health insurance coverage, social
stigmas, and workforce shortages, among others. Lack of
INNOVATIONS IN RURAL HEALTH CARE
PAGE 14 July Issue 2021
