Intermountain Health joins Microsoft, Gates Ventures, Epic, and West Health to Address Rural America’s Healthcare Crisis

rural health

Intermountain Health is partnering with Microsoft, Gates Ventures, Epic, and West Health to form a coalition aimed at reversing the current trajectory of rural healthcare. 

Sixty million people – roughly one of every five Americans – are grappling with shrinking patient access, rising mortality rates, and closing hospitals.

Over the last two decades, mortality rates for virtually every leading cause of death have almost tripled in rural communities. 

Roughly 20% of rural Americans live in counties without hospitals. Seven out of 10 live in a county that doesn’t have a practicing oncologist. Rural patients wait an average of 13 minutes for an ambulance following a 9-1-1 call. Over 130 hospitals have closed and another 700 are at risk of closure.

“The current challenges facing rural Americans are sobering and the current system is unsustainable,” said Dan Liljenquist, chief strategy officer for Intermountain Health. “Our coalition is fully invested in understanding those challenges so we can deliver solutions that help people live the healthiest lives possible for generations. We are deeply committed to being engaged stewards in the communities we serve and leading lasting, transformational change across the country and industry.”

Formed in late 2023, the coalition identified improving specialty care access, narrowing urban population disparities, strengthening hospitals’ financial stability, and addressing technology infrastructure gaps as areas most likely to make a significant, lasting impact. 

The group recently published their findings and proposed interventions in an expansive white paper. It proposes implementing a “hub-and-spoke” strategy at the nation’s rural hospitals.

“This strategy pairs rural hospitals with larger national health systems and hospitals,” explained Dr. Jim Weinstein, senior vice president of innovation and health equity at Microsoft. “Through this approach, a rural ‘spoke’ hospital accesses a national ‘hub’ hospital’s technology, staffing, medication discounts, and other resources. We hope this makes it possible for rural hospitals to remain independent while they implement more sustainable financial practices, reduce health disparities, and expand specialty care.”

All the principles outlined in the white paper are evidence-based, grounded in market research and other data. 

To learn more about the coalition and its mission to revive rural healthcare, download a copy of the white paper here.