Rural Listening Session Report Published

Building on years of collaboration, the Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH) and the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) began planning in late 2023 to conduct six regional listening sessions with rural and remote health facilities, public health agencies, coordinated care organizations (CCOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to discuss and brainstorm solutions related to what each organization perceived as the most significant challenges to providing and receiving health care in rural Oregon. Session agendas were co-developed with input from facilities, agencies and organizations and tailored to each region’s priorities.  

 

The ORH/ORPRN Rural Listening Session Report presents an overview of the common issues heard during the 2024 listening sessions. It includes feedback from 96 participants from 50 rural health care organizations, public health departments, CCOs and CBOs, including: 

• 13 community-based organizations; 
• 12 Critical Access Hospitals; 
• 10 rural clinics; 
• Eight public health departments; 
• Four Coordinated Care Organizations;  
• Two Type B hospitals; and 
• One county government. 
  
   

The most common challenges and solutions to those challenges, which were discussed during the listening sessions are explored in the report, and include: 

• Health care workforce recruitment and retention; 
• Access to care; 
• Patient supports and social drivers of health; and 
• Health care facility finances. 
  
   

Please contact Sarah Andersen | ansarah@ohsu.edu with any comments or questions about the report.