Collaborative Impact a Multi-Sector Approach to Rural Health Innovation

As economic pillars of rural communities, top county or regional employers are drivers not only of economic stability but also of physical, mental, and social well-being for rural residents. Employee health has significant financial implications for businesses: diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and arthritis account for over $400 billion in lost productivity annually. Risk factors for these “lifestyle” diseases are rooted in social and economic determinants that are often exacerbated in rural areas. Rural residents face many barriers to realizing better health, such as limited access to reliable transportation, distance from healthcare facilities, reluctance or inability to take leave from work, fear or distrust of healthcare institutions, and low health and digital literacy.

When multi-sector collaboration is catalyzed at the local level, these structural barriers that drive poor health outcomes in rural areas can be overcome. Panelists will discuss how collaboration between local business leaders, healthcare systems, public health supports, and community and economic development organizations is key in improving health outcomes of the rural workforce in the long-term. What is the return on investing in employee health and wellbeing? How can businesses be supported to create a workplace culture of health? What innovations are needed in healthcare delivery to move the needle on chronic disease burdens? How do we elevate perspectives from underserved communities within rural areas? Discussion will focus on scalable and sustainable approaches to improving health outcomes in the rural workforce.