2026 CAH Quality Workshop

The Oregon Office of Rural Health’s (ORH’s) 2026 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Workshop, held April 15–16 at St. Charles Bend, was a success, bringing together rural hospital quality leaders from across Oregon for two days of learning, collaboration and practical application.

Funded through ORH’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) grant, the workshop focused on strengthening quality improvement efforts and opened with updates for small rural hospitals from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), followed by interactive sessions on root cause analysis for readmissions by Telligen, the Midwest Quality Improvement Network (QIN) – Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), quality assurance and performance improvement fundamentals, and turning data into meaningful improvement facilitated by Susan Runyan. 

One of the most valued components of the workshop was the CAH panel discussions, where peers shared real-world successes and lessons learned. A special thank you to these quality leaders for their contributions:

• Dani Nodine, quality and UR manager, Blue Mountain Hospital | Promoting Interoperability – Opioid Measure Success;
• Jodana Wozab, associate nurse manager of inpatient services/swing bed facilitator, Providence Seaside Hospital | Swing Bed Program and Hometown Health Education Experience;
• Alena Acklin, quality and process improvement, Lake Health District | Diabetes Control;
• Erin Kraus, quality assurance RN, Providence Hood River | Use of Electronic Command Center During Accreditation Survey; and
• Tracy Villarreal, care management and social work leader, Providence Seaside Hospital | Successes with Social Drivers of Health in a CAH.

These peer-led discussions sparked thoughtful questions and meaningful dialogue among attendees.

Participants also worked collaboratively to review Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) measures, analyze facility-specific data and begin developing actionable quality improvement plans. Attendees left with clearer next steps, practical strategies and renewed confidence in using data to drive improvement.

Beyond formal sessions, the workshop provided valuable opportunities for networking and relationship-building among rural hospital peers. The shared learning environment reinforced the strength of Oregon’s CAH community and the collective commitment to advancing quality, safety and patient-centered care.

Thank you to all presenters, panelists and attendees who contributed to the success of this workshop! We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting ongoing quality improvement efforts across Oregon’s CAHs.