Bringing Better Healthcare Access to Rural Communities
This week, Healthy Connections participated in the 2025 Rural Health Association of Arkansas (RHAA) Policy and Aging Summit at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. Executive Vice President for Operations Ron Sellers represented our organization, advocating for policies that improve healthcare access, expand services, and strengthen rural healthcare in Arkansas.
As a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Healthy Connections provides high-quality, affordable healthcare to patients across Western and Central Arkansas, including primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and chronic disease management. Our participation in events like this ensures we remain at the forefront of rural healthcare advancements, allowing us to bring the best care to the communities we serve.
How Does This Impact Patients?
Rural communities face unique healthcare challenges, from doctor shortages to long travel distances for specialty care. The RHAA Summit focused on finding solutions to these issues, with discussions on telehealth expansion, healthcare workforce shortages, and new policies aimed at making healthcare more affordable and accessible.
A major focus of the summit was aging and senior healthcare, addressing the growing need for better chronic disease management, palliative care, and mental health services for older adults. Experts from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Hospice discussed innovative ways to improve care for seniors, ensuring they receive the support they need to maintain their health and independence.
For patients of all ages, policy discussions also explored funding options for rural healthcare clinics, Medicaid expansion, and provider recruitment, all of which directly impact access to care in Arkansas. These are the kinds of conversations that shape the future of healthcare—and Healthy Connections is making sure our patients’ needs are heard.
Technology and Innovation in Rural Healthcare
One of the most exciting discussions at the summit focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and telehealth in rural healthcare. AI is helping providers improve early disease detection, streamline patient care, and expand remote healthcare options—critical advancements for patients who may not have easy access to a doctor.
Telemedicine and AI-powered diagnostics are making it easier than ever for rural patients to connect with healthcare professionals, reducing the need for long-distance travel while improving early intervention and treatment plans. These innovations are key to ensuring that all Arkansans, regardless of location, receive the highest quality of care.
Healthy Connections: Your Partner in Rural Healthcare
At Healthy Connections, our mission is to provide expert, patient-centered healthcare for individuals and families across Arkansas. We stay engaged in healthcare policy discussions to ensure our clinics can offer the best services, from preventive screenings and wellness checkups to behavioral health support and chronic disease treatment.
With clinics across the state, we serve patients with Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and those without insurance through our sliding-fee scale program—because healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and high-quality for everyone.
Need a trusted healthcare provider in Arkansas? Healthy Connections offers expert medical, dental, and behavioral health services to patients of all ages. Call us today at 888-710-8220 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.healthy-connections.org to find a clinic near you.
