The Northwest Regional Rural Health
Conference (RHC) is the Northwest's largest conference on rural health,
incorporating Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. It is
held toward the end of March each year. The 2009 Northwest Regional Rural
Health Conference will be held on March 19th and 20th at the Red Lion Hotel
at the Park, Spokane, WA.
The conference always strives to
stay abreast of current policy and regulatory developments at the federal,
regional, state and local levels which impact healthcare delivery. WRHA is a
conference partner along with Washington State University, Washington
Department of Health – Office of Community and Rural Health, the Area Health
Education Center of Eastern Washington, Western Washington Area Health
Education Center, and the University of Washington School of Medicine. The
position of conference chair rotates among these partners. The Area Health
Education Center of Eastern Washington manages this conference and the
Critical Access Hospital Conference (CAH) which is held the day previous to
RHC.
Because WRHA and RHC are both managed by
contracts with the AHEC, there is significant crossover in workload at this
time of year. However, it is not “our conference” in the sense that we are
solely responsible for planning and executing the event. Because WRHA and
RHC originated around the same time and grew up together, they have become
linked in many ways over the years:
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WRHA members receive a discount on their registration to
the conference.
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WRHA has a booth at the conference each year.
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WRHA silver and gold sponsors receive free exhibit
booths and registrations
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The incoming WRHA president delivers the closing remarks
for the conference.
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WRHA presents its awards during the luncheon on the
first day of the conerence.
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WRHA members are identified by stickers on their
nametags.
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Our annual meeting is held in the hotel during the late
afternoon of the first day of the conference.
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WRHA information is published in the syllabus that all
attendees receive.
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WRHA appoints a representative to the conference
planning committee each year.
More information on the conference is available at the AHEC
of E. WA's website (www.ahec.spokane.wsu.edu),
or from their central office at 509-358-7640. Detailed conference
information for attendees and sponsors is generally available beginning in
December.
