ARHP is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. The health entity actively engages 19 rural hospitals, 3 teaching medical institutions, and 2 federally qualified health centers as members to serve residents and communities throughout rural Arkansas. The organization works closely with members to develop, implement, and sustain initiatives that meet demonstrated local needs impacting health across rural Arkansas.
To advance the health and wellness of rural residents, providers, and healthcare organizations through dynamic collaboration, forward-thinking, and the strategic leveraging of resources.
Our Vision: Pioneering a New Health Reality
We engage community members, leaders, and policy makers to effect transformative change that improves the health outcomes and health access of individuals living in rural Arkansas.
We engage representatives from diverse sectors (education, workforce, economic development, public health, private industry) to help form and implement regional solutions to healthcare challenges.
We save a seat at the table for all individuals and organizations that want to foster real change in rural Arkansas. This includes community members, partner organizations, funders, sponsors, and donors.
We look for ways to continuously improve and transform rural healthcare, including, but not limited to: delivery systems, payment models, technology, workforce development, and more.
We are committed to ensuring that individuals living in rural settings have fair and just opportunities to live, work, play, and thrive and champion strategies and efforts that move the needle forward on rural health access.
Our members recognized early on that if they wanted to continue to shape the health, wellness, and lives of their communities, they had to work together—hand-in-hand with local leaders, other rural healthcare providers, state and federal partners, and community members themselves - to truly address the needs of rural Arkansas residents.
We believe lasting change is possible by strategically investing in rural health systems and the residents they serve and employ. ARHP initiatives support the following categories:
The 501c3 nonprofit health entity is founded by 5 rural hospital members. Together, the organization begins to serve the rural Arkansas community.
ARHP begins facilitating Community Health Needs Assessments with member hospitals. Identified needs become the foundation of new grant-funded projects (HRSA Delta States).
Every member hospital unanimously identify behavioral health as their #1 concern to address. New programs are designed to address gaps in mental health screening & services and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery.
The need for a homegrown rural health workforce is staggering. ARHP invests in health workforce pipeline projects spanning the continuum, from new rural residency training programs to the ARHP health workforce mobile unit.
ARHP is now a recognized voice for rural Arkansas and beyond. 20+ members span over 25 Arkansas counties. The Arkansas Rural Health Academy breaks access barriers to bring training & education opportunities throughout the rural state.
