Early Bird Registration Ends September 15 |
Annual Award Nominations Being Accepted |
As part of our Fall Conference, HomeTown will recognize its Executive Leadership Class of 2026 as well as announce its annual position and organizational winners from within our network. Nominations are now being accepted through online form submission: |
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Rural Transformation Resources |
HomeTown Health is committed to keeping you informed and empowered as Georgia embarks on the most significant rural health transformation in decades. We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates, resources and support to help your hospital maximize the benefits of these programs, as we also continue to partner with the Department of Community Health and others for guidance on next steps for participation in this program. Feel free to reach out to Kristy Thomson, COO with any questions.
Florida Rural Health Transformation Program Update:
Georgia Rural Health Transformation Program Update: Upcoming Webinar DCH will hold the second quarterly update on GREAT Health on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 1:00 pm ET, where leadership will share an overview of Year 1 funding, milestones achieved, key accomplishments since launch and what’s next for GREAT Health. To register : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hENwgaM-TL2j1wsun3TYlA#/registration Great Health Advisory Council Members Announced
In addition to hearing project details and updates from DCH leadership and vendor partners involved in program management, expectations and responsibilities of members of the GREAT Health Advisory Council include the following: - Offer feedback on GREAT Health Program strategy and milestones;
- Provide rural expertise for the duration of the program, which is expected to be five years; and,
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Review program progress, data, and performance dashboards.
Council Members - Kristy Thomson
- Angela Handley
- Andrea Graham
- John Crew
- Scotty Hancock
- Laura Gentry
- Andrew Johnson
- Keri Conley
- Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber
- Govind Hariharan
- Matthew Lyon
- Michael Purvis
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Tracie Haughey
- Van Loskoski
- Fran Witt
- Christy Jordan
- Kyle Lott
- Brian Steines
- Clint Hoffman
- Shamie Das
The inaugural GREAT Health Advisory Council meeting was held on August 31, 2026. The meeting recording can be found here: https://youtu.be/44mutwJqVOs Funding Opportunities - There are currently no open funding opportunities
- Award for the Telehealth Enhancements funding is forthcoming
DCH Announcements |
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Gold Partner | Approved Service Line: Cybersecurity and Managed or Co-Managed IT Services
HiTech is a nationally recognized Managed IT and Cybersecurity Services provider dedicated to serving rural healthcare organizations. Since 1997, we have helped hospitals, clinics, physician practices, and healthcare networks strengthen security, improve reliability, and make technology a strategic advantage rather than a daily challenge. Today, HiTech serves as an extension of the IT department for healthcare organizations. Our Managed IT and Cybersecurity services include: - 24×7 Network Monitoring and Support
- Zero Trust Security
- AI Security
- Cloud Solutions
- Strategic IT Planning
- Microsoft and Azure Services
- Backup and Disaster Recovery
- Incident Response and Remediation
- Compliance and Risk Management
- Cyber Education and Tabletop Exercises
With deep experience in healthcare operations, regulatory requirements, and the unique challenges facing rural providers, HiTech helps organizations reduce risk, improve resilience, and keep critical systems available for patient care.
HiTech's mission is to Secure Rural America by empowering healthcare organizations with the technology, expertise, and guidance they need to thrive in an increasingly complex digital world. From AI to Zero Trust, we help rural healthcare stay secure, compliant, and resilient.
Please contact: Eidan Cheatham or and Chris Derish or call us at 318-255-5556, or visit us at www.it.inc
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Free Webinar: October 9 | 10 am EST
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Into the Swing of Things: Unlocking the Power of Rehab Across Critical Access and Swing Bed Care |
What if one of the most powerful resources for improving patient flow, strengthening transitions, and keeping appropriate care close to home is already inside your hospital? Rehabilitation professionals can play a pivotal role across the critical access continuum; from screening acute admissions and identifying patients who may benefit from therapy, to supporting appropriate transitions into swing bed care and determining post-discharge rehabilitation needs. This session explores practical strategies for integrating PT, OT, and SLP earlier and more intentionally into the patient journey. Participants will examine how a proactive rehabilitation model can support timely intervention, appropriate utilization of swing bed services, smoother care transitions, and stronger clinical and operational outcomes.
Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify opportunities to integrate rehabilitation screening and evaluation throughout the critical access patient journey.
2. Describe strategies for leveraging rehabilitation services to support appropriate swing bed utilization and effective care transitions
ENROLL NOW! |
News from Augusta Univeristy:
Inaugural Cohort of Peach State Scholars Celebrate End of Residency Training
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We had the opportunity to celebrate our inaugural cohort of Peach State Scholars this month. It’s hard to believe it has been five years since we welcomed these students into the 3+ PGY1 pathway program, and now they are completing their residency training and preparing to practice in rural and underserved communities across Georgia.
This program reflects one of the most important parts of our mission – improving access to care for all Georgians, particularly in areas where the need is greatest. By investing early in students who are committed to serving these communities, we are helping address critical physician shortages while strengthening the long-term health of our state. And it would not be possible without support from Peach State Health Plan, the State of Georgia and our generous donors.
It is especially rewarding to see this first group come full circle, from students who made a commitment to serve, to physicians ready to make a meaningful impact. Their work will not only improve access to care but also strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in communities that depend on it. We couldn’t be prouder of the example they’ve set, and we look forward to seeing the difference they will make in the years ahead.
Our inaugural cohort includes: - Claud Bugheni, who will practice emergency medicine in McDuffie County;
- Michael Butler, an internist who will be based in Thomson;
- Luis Rodriguez, who is returning home to Tifton to practice emergency medicine;
- Arika Shaikh, who will practice family medicine in Dawsonville; and
- My Duyen Hoang Vo-Simmons, a pediatrician who will practice in Blairsville.
My best to you all, David C. Hess, MD Dean, Medical College of Georgia |
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Gold Partner | Approved Service Line: Population Health Management, Care Gap Closure, and Consumer-Facing Engagement
Sharecare is a digital healthcare company that helps hospitals, health systems, and the people they serve improve care quality, drive better outcomes, and lower costs. Its platform brings together population health management, care gap closure, and consumer-facing engagement, using data-driven AI insights and evidence-based resources to identify needs across a population, reach people directly, and guide them to appropriate local care. The result is stronger patient relationships, more closed gaps, and better use of the resources an organization already has. Across its three business channels, Sharecare enables health plan sponsors, health systems and physician practices, and leading pharmaceutical brands to drive personalized and value-based care at scale.
To learn more, visit sharecare.com |
Gold Partner | Approved Service Line: Payer Policy Intelligence & Revenue Protection
Rural hospitals are absorbing the same payer complexity as major health systems, with a fraction of the resources. In Network levels that fight. Our PolicyWatch platform gives rural hospital RCM leaders the payer intelligence advantage that large health systems take for granted, monitoring every policy change, alerting your team before those changes affect claims, and putting the proof and the dollars behind every requirement. Built for rural healthcare. Contact: Jason Bearden or Tony Kempisty
www.innetworknow.com |
Free Webinar: October 2 | 10 am EST
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The State of Price Transparency in 2026 & Beyond |
Hospital Price Transparency CMS requirements continue to evolve, with 2026 bringing increased enforcement activity and greater attention to how hospitals are meeting compliance standards in practice. This webinar will provide a concise look at the foundational requirements hospitals need to maintain, key enforcement developments and what they reveal about current expectations, and informed observations on where Price Transparency may be headed next. SlicedHealth will also highlight how Price Transparency technology can reduce the manual while supporting federal compliance standards and broader revenue cycle and operational intelligence.
Learning Outcomes: Refresh your understanding of the foundational requirements hospitals need to maintain for ongoing Price Transparency compliance.
• Identify key 2026 enforcement developments and what current enforcement activity reveals about how requirements are being applied. • Recognize common compliance risks and areas of increased scrutiny, including the importance of preparing accurate, complete organizational data before working with a vendor to support faster compliance.
• Prepare for what’s next by considering emerging trends while exploring how effective technology and automation can reduce manual workload, support compliance, and strengthen long-term revenue integrity.
ENROLL NOW! |
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Questions? Need Assistance? Contact us at hthtech@hometownhealthonline.com Reach us by phone at 470.655.6950 |
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