Beyond geography: Scalable care models for access, workforce and sustainability

Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT

Rural access challenges are no longer defined by distance. They are driven by workforce shortages, capacity constraints and the need to deliver care differently with limited resources. As demand rises, health systems are rethinking traditional models to extend access without new brick-and-mortar expansion.

In this discussion, leaders from Bon Secours Mercy Health, HonorHealth, Sutter Health and University of Maryland Medical System will share how they are rebalancing where and how care is delivered. Panelists will outline strategies for deploying distributed, community-based, home-based and virtual models that expand clinical capacity, ease clinician strain and improve access — moving beyond pilots to sustainable, scalable impact.

Attendees will learn:

The top drivers of today's rural care gap and early warning signs of strain
How leading systems are redefining where care happens
Ways to extend workforce capacity while protecting quality and retention
The virtual capabilities required to support clinical decision-making and reduce unnecessary transfers