The Rural Board Education Series, presented by Texas Healthcare Trustees (THT) in partnership with the State Office of Rural Health (SORH), has successfully concluded, bringing together rural hospital leaders from across Texas to strengthen governance practices and quality oversight. Through a combination of engaging webinars and in-person workshops, participants gained practical tools to enhance board effectiveness, support compliance, and improve patient outcomes within their communities. While the live components have wrapped, the webinar sessions remain available on demand, offering continued access to valuable insights and resources for hospital board members, CEOs, and governance liaisons committed to advancing rural health care leadership.
On-Demand Webinars
Quality and Patient Safety Bootcamp for Rural Hospital Boards
Speaker: Sheila Dolbow, MSN, RN, CFN, CPHQ, Quality Improvement Manager, Texas Hospital Association Foundation, Austin
Join us for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in rural health care. This session will explore health disparities in rural communities, board oversight responsibilities and key metrics for governance. Additionally, attendees will discover and explore programs supporting rural hospitals and take away best practices for proactive quality leadership.
The Role of Quality in Financial Success
Speakers: Laura Cornelson, MSN, RN, Vice President, Clinical Initiatives, Texas Hospital Association; and Matt Turner, Ph.D., Senior Director of Health Care Policy, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
This webinar will explore the connection between quality performance and financial sustainability in rural hospitals. Attendees will learn how quality outcomes impact revenue and reimbursement, and which key indicators have the greatest financial implications. The session will also highlight how boards and leaders can leverage quality data to guide strategic financial decisions.
Quality Compliance Bootcamp for Rural Hospital Boards
Speaker: Carla Brock Wilber, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CATCH, CPHQ, Principal, Stroudwater
This final webinar will provide board members with essential tools for quality compliance in rural health care. Participants will learn about CMS Conditions of Participation requirements for hospital boards, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) standards, and review key regulatory and volunteer reporting responsibilities.
Publications
For the third part of the program, THT will provide two self-study resources to support trustees’ ongoing education. The updated Quality and Patient Safety Guidebook will be tailored to the unique challenges of rural hospitals, covering the board’s role, legal obligations, governance structures, and strategies to improve quality outcomes. In addition, a new Health Care Terms and Abbreviations Guide will offer clear definitions of commonly used terms and acronyms, helping both new and experienced trustees navigate the complex language of health care. Both publications will be distributed free of charge to every rural hospital in Texas.
This webinar series is presented by Texas Healthcare Trustees and the State Office of Rural Health.
