Rural Hospital CEO Challenges and Successes

Abstract

This Dissertation in Practice provides insights into the lives of rural Nebraska hospital executives. Many researchers have looked at leadership and the struggles that they have in leadership. Few look specifically at rural healthcare leaders and the struggles of running a small-town hospital. Living in the perpetual fishbowl is more difficult and can have greater drawbacks than the large facility executives have. The financial outcomes are more difficult to produce, and the high rates of patients with Medicaid coverage can make it impossible at times. This study highlights both the challenges along with the tactics that have facilitated success for those rural executives. Some of the key themes highlighted in the study include: rural living, recruitment, leadership team/culture, and operations/governance. Recommendations from the study include building facility and community buy-in to the value of the hospital, along with bottom-up board education. This study’s findings could help a new executive to understand and navigate the common pitfalls that are shared by other executives. Keywords: Leadership, rural, culture, executive, influence