News

Contact: Karrine Brogoitti

By Jeremy Davis, President & CEO, Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics

On Thursday, November 20, communities across the country will recognize National Rural Health Day. For Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics, it’s more than an observance. It’s a chance to reflect on why rural hospitals exist and what it means for a community to have reliable care close to home.
What Rural Health Day Represents
National Rural Health Day highlights two important truths about rural healthcare. Rural communities face higher rates of chronic disease, older populations, and long distances to essential services. Yet these same communities are also defined by resilience, connection, and a remarkable capacity to care for one another.
The day honors the nurses who arrive before dawn, the clinical teams who work across multiple specialties to meet local needs, and the providers who choose to build their careers in smaller communities. It also recognizes the patients and families who place their trust in us each day.
Why Rural Hospitals Matter
In many towns, the local hospital is the only source of inpatient care and the central hub for emergency response. It is also one of the largest employers, supporting local jobs and contributing directly to community stability.
When a rural hospital closes or reduces services, the effects ripple far beyond healthcare. Communities can lose population, businesses struggle to recruit workers, and access to emergency care becomes uncertain. More than 180 rural communities across the country have already experienced this loss over the past decade.
The Challenges We Face
Rural hospitals continue to navigate rising costs, workforce shortages, and payment structures that often fall short of covering the actual cost of care. Policy changes at the state and federal levels bring additional uncertainty.
Even so, our mission remains clear: provide high-quality, compassionate care for the people of Union County. The commitment of our staff and the strength of this community make that possible.
The Power of Rural in Union County
One of the greatest strengths of rural healthcare is connection. Our teams know their patients, their families, and their stories. Providers often care for several generations in the same household. That familiarity builds trust, leading to better communication and more personalized care.
We also see the “Power of Rural” in our success recruiting skilled providers who want to practice medicine where it makes a meaningful difference. Over the past year, we have welcomed new clinicians to our primary care, orthopedic, and oncology teams. Their decision to join us reflects the collaborative environment here and the value they see in caring for a tight-knit community.
Innovation continues to take root as well. Telehealth connects patients with distant specialists, and community partnerships help us address local needs beyond traditional clinical care. While rural health systems may not have the scale of large metropolitan hospitals, they balance resourcefulness with a deep sense of purpose.
How You Can Support Rural Health
On National Rural Health Day, I encourage our community to:
1. Choose local care when possible. It strengthens the services that will be here when you need them.
2. Advocate for rural health. Let leaders know that strong rural healthcare is essential infrastructure.
3. Thank a healthcare worker. A simple expression of gratitude carries significant weight.
Looking Ahead
Many forces will shape the future of rural healthcare, but our commitment to this community is unwavering. On this National Rural Health Day, I am grateful for your trust and for the dedicated teams across Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics.
Rural health is not simply about geography. It is about community, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality care close to home. We remain steadfast in that mission.