Rural Health Today

By Hillsdale HospitalHealth & Fitness

Rural Health Today episodes

November 09 November 9, 2026: What the Election Results Mean for Rural Health with Laura Appel
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

If you would like to get in touch with the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, visit mha.org or follow them on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/MichiganHospitals
https://www.linkedin.com/company/michiganhospitals/

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

28 min
November 05 Healthcare & Economics: The Reality of Declining Rural Communities & What Can We Do with Dr. Alison Davis
Today we’re talking about how rural health and economics coincide. Dr. Alison Davis, assistant vice president and professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky, is here to share her knowledge of agricultural economics and their role in the health of rural communities. We’ll talk about social determinants of health, the importance of hospitals to vibrant communities, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!
https://x.com/RuralHealthPod
https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/

Follow our guest on social media!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-f-davis-8baa576/

50 min
November 02 November 2, 2026: Losses in Pediatric Care, Cuts to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries and a Project to Help Fight Skin Cancer in Rural Communities
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ⁠ruralhealthtoday.com⁠.
6 min
October 29 Cultivating the Stranded Workforce in Rural Health with Dr. Ryan Gates
Today we’re talking about the challenges facing today’s healthcare pipeline. Dr. Gates is here to share his experience and expertise in the industry workforce. We’ll talk about changes in healthcare education, staffing shortages, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!
https://x.com/RuralHealthPod
https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/

Follow Ryan Gates on social media!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gates-9196a210/

Follow WGU on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu
https://www.instagram.com/westerngovernorsu/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/school/western-governors-university/

46 min
October 26 October 26, 2026: $1.6 Billion Revenue Loss for Rural Hospitals, Rural vs. Urban Breast Cancer Survival Rates, and Partnerships that Keep Hospitals Independent
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:
Andrew Cass, “Rural hospitals to see $1.6B revenue hit from ACA subsidy loss: Report,” October 22, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/rural-hospitals-to-see-1-6b-revenue-hit-from-aca-subsidy-loss-report/, Becker’s Hospital Review.
American Hospital Association, “America’s Rural Hospitals at a Crossroads,” 2026, https://www.aha.org/americas-rural-hospitals-crossroads.
The Commonwealth Fund, “Without Renewal of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Rural Hospital Revenues Will Drop by $1.6 Billion,” November 13, 2025, https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2025/without-renewal-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-rural-hospital-revenues-will-drop-16-billion.
American Cancer Society, “ACS Studies Find Widening Rural-Urban Survival and Mortality Gaps for Women With Breast Cancer,” October 12, 2026, https://pressroom.cancer.org/rural-survival-rates-breast-cancer.
Kristin Kuchno, “How rural hospitals are teaming up with big systems — without selling,” October 7, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-transactions-and-valuation/how-rural-hospitals-are-teaming-up-with-big-systems-without-selling/, Becker’s Hospital Review.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

5 min
October 22 Bridging the Gap Between Patients and Technology in Rural Hospitals with Kem Graham
Today we’re talking about adopting technology into rural health. Kem Graham, vice president of growth and strategy at CliniComp, is here to share her expertise on the unique challenges and opportunities for rural hospitals approaching technology integrations. We’ll talk about overcoming barriers, equipping physicians, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!
https://x.com/RuralHealthPod
https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/

Follow our guest on social media!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemgraham
https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinicomp/
https://www.instagram.com/clinicompintl/?hl=en

48 min
October 19 October 19, 2026: A Bipartisan Effort to Help Keep Rural Hospitals Open, the Most Pressing Needs Hospitals Currently Face, and Missouri's Solution for Rural Hospitals to Retain Their Independence
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:
Liz Carey, “Congress Members Move to Offset Coming Cuts to Rural Hospital Funding,” October 5, 2026, https://dailyyonder.com/congress-members-move-to-offset-coming-cuts-to-rural-hospital-funding/2026/10/05/, The Daily Yonder.
American Hospital Association, “America’s Rural Hospitals at a Crossroads,” https://www.aha.org/americas-rural-hospitals-crossroads.
Christopher Cheney, “Missouri Independent Hospitals Seek Strength in Numbers with New Clinically Integrated Network,” October 7, 2026, https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cmo/missouri-independent-hospitals-seek-strength-numbers-new-clinically-integrated-network, Health Leaders.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

7 min
October 15 Setting a Course for Rural Health Challenges Using Patient Centered Strategies with Michael Topchik
Today we’re talking about the long-term outlook of rural health on a nation-wide scale. Michael will provide us with a sense of where the industry is headed and what it will take to ensure sustainability. We’ll talk about health access, mergers and acquisitions, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media
!https://x.com/RuralHealthPod
https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/

Follow our guest on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/michael.topchik
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-chartis-group/

49 min
October 12 October 12, 2026: Putting Terms & Conditions on RHTP, Negative Margins at Large, and a Rural Emergency Response
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.

News sources for this episode:
Strata, “Strata Decision Technology’s Performance Trends Report for H1 2026,” https://www.stratadecision.com/resources/report/2026-healthcare-financial-outlook-report.
Lauren Dyrda, “Hospital margins barely keep pace with volume growth: 7 notes,” October 7, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/hospital-margins-barely-keep-pace-with-volume-growth-7-notes/, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Maggie Fitzgerald, “'We’re here to save lives' | How a rural hospital mobilized to help 26 patients from the Vienna mass shooting,” October 5, 2026, https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/how-a-rural-hospital-mobilized-to-help-26-patients-from-the-vienna-mass-shooting/93-3911feb7-1772-4ac2-912e-01da554416be, 13 WMAZ.

Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.

5 min
October 08 Rethinking the Breakdown of Public Trust in Healthcare with Brinda Adhikari, Co-Host of "Why Should I Trust You?"
Medical mistrust can lead to barriers in timely care. Today Brinda Adhikari is here to talk about the breakdown of trust in the healthcare industry and the impact this has on patient care and access to health services. We’ll talk about vaccine hesitancy, navigating political conversations, and of course, what it all has to do with rural health.

Follow Rural Health Today on social media!
https://x.com/RuralHealthPod
https://www.youtube.com/@ruralhealthtoday7665

Follow Hillsdale Hospital on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/hillsdalehospital/ https://www.twitter.com/hillsdalehosp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsdale-community-health-center/ https://www.instagram.com/hillsdalehospital/
Follow our guest on social media!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brinda-adhikari-0085b237/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BzJrn9lOlRD%2B6yuIsvMyQcg%3D%3D
https://x.com/brindaadhikari
https://www.instagram.com/brindabee/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/brinda.adhikari.5

51 min