Celebrating the ‘Power of Rural’ in Pennsylvania
National Rural Health Day highlights rural hospitals commitment to care
November 20, 2025
Pennsylvania’s rural hospitals ensure their communities have access to outstanding care.
On National Rural Health Day, we recognize rural hospitals for the ways they are transforming care to meet patients’ needs and their outstanding commitment to their communities.
“We cannot have healthy, vibrant, and economically competitive rural communities without strong rural hospitals,” said HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings.
Rural Pennsylvania offers a wonderful place to live but a challenging health care landscape, requiring unique approaches. This year, HAP and the hospital community have highlighted the ways funding cuts put rural care in jeopardy. We also have called for initiatives to grow the rural workforce, ensuring there are enough caregivers in these regions.
Pennsylvania’s rural hospitals support:
- $12.7 billion economic impact
- $3.8 billion wages, salaries, and jobs
- 58,105 jobs
Nationwide, nearly 61 million people live in rural areas, and 86 percent of the country’s land area is considered rural. HAP continues to support Pennsylvania’s rural health care by advocating for policies and legislation that allow our rural hospitals to thrive. This includes a focus on sustainable funding, workforce development, and telehealth as well as other new models that help protect access to care.
Additional information about National Rural Health Day is available online.