Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference

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 2011 Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference will be held March 30 and 31 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:

• WRHA members receive a discount on their registration to the conference.
• WRHA has a booth at the conference each year.
• WRHA silver and gold sponsors receive free exhibit booths and registrations.
• The incoming WRHA president delivers the closing remarks for the conference.
• WRHA presents its awards during the luncheon on the first day of the conerence.
• WRHA members are identified by stickers on their nametags.
• Our annual meeting is held in the hotel during the late afternoon of the first day of the conference.
• WRHA information is published in the syllabus that all attendees receive. 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, or from their central office at 509-358-7640. Detailed conference information for attendees and sponsors is generally available beginning in December.