Rural 9 Network

The Utah Rural Independent Hospital Network, dba “Rural 9 Network” was established in 2013 and includes all nine rural independent hospitals in the state, which serve the seven counties in which they are located as well as four adjacent counties without hospitals. The network is organized as an official business entity, with elected officers and monthly dues.

Goals of the network are:

1) reduced isolation,

2) better negotiating position for purchasing services and products and

3) forum to network, share best practices and participate in joint educational opportunities.

Many manager subgroups are organized that meet face-to-face during the year at difference frequencies and continually network one to another. Subgroups include: CEOs, CFOs, CNOs, BO Managers/HIM Directors, Quality Coordinators, Risk Managers, HR Managers and Pharmacists.

One success story of the network is collaboration with the larger systems in the state to provide high quality, low cost services, such as: ICD-10 preparation (Steward Healthcare), hands-on nurse training (University of Utah), annual rural hospital conference (Intermountain Healthcare), leadership development workshops (University of Utah), and revenue cycle and regulatory compliance training (Intermountain Healthcare).