How Arkansas Rural Health Partnership is Solving the Rural Healthcare Workforce Crisis
AFMC TV recently sat down with Mellie Bogani, CEO of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP), to explore how this growing organization is transforming rural healthcare workforce development across the state of Arkansas.
Building a Healthcare Network That Works
Since its founding in 2008 with just five hospitals, ARHP has expanded to include 19 hospitals, four Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and every medical school in Arkansas. The goal? Collaboratively tackle health disparities and sustainability by pooling resources, writing grants, and thinking bigger.
Workforce Development: From Awareness to Action
The ARHP workforce mission is multi-layered. It starts with education—showing rural youth that healthcare is more than doctors and nurses. Through interactive mobile exhibits and a dedicated careers website, ARHP showcases real stories and salary info for healthcare roles, from patient care techs to medical assistants.
Scholarships and Their Own Healthcare Academy
To remove financial and geographic barriers, ARHP secured funding for 120+ scholarships in areas like EMT, HIT, and behavioral health tech. When local programs weren’t available, they created their own virtual healthcare academy, offering remote learning and in-person clinical check-offs.
Collaboration is Key
Workforce success depends on aligning schools, hospitals, and economic developers. From forming statewide task forces with nursing schools to expanding rural residency programs, ARHP is bridging gaps—especially in specialties like OB/GYN and mental health, which remain chronically underserved.
Telehealth and Tech: More Than a COVID Fix
COVID-19 accelerated the acceptance of telehealth, and ARHP is leaning in. From virtual cardiac rehab to behavioral health services, telehealth is unlocking access. And the future? Think drones delivering prescriptions and AI-enabled diagnostics.
The Road Ahead
Bogani hopes the future of rural healthcare is locally driven, community-supported, and tech-enabled. From homegrown professionals to engaged communities using local hospitals and social media for health education, it’s a movement powered by collaboration and vision.
Ready to explore workforce solutions or become a partner? Visit the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership website for more details.
Watch the full episode of AFMC TV to hear more from Mellie Bogani and her inspiring work across Arkansas.