Applications now open for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award 

Apr 28, 2026 - 02:52 PM
A diverse group of businesspeople siting in three rows smiling and clapping.

Applications are now open for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award, which recognizes and shares the accomplishments of rural hospitals that demonstrate responsiveness, innovation and excellence in developing, implementing and sustaining programs and services. One winner and up to three finalists will be selected; honorees will be hospitals investing in programs, care redesign, collaboration, or technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges in rural, remote and frontier areas of the United States and its territories. The award will be presented at the 2027 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, held Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2027, in Orlando, Florida. The AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award is sponsored by Microsoft. APPLY NOW 

Related News Articles

Headline
Applications now open for the Carolyn Boone Lewis Award for Improving Health Outcomes
The AHA is now accepting applications for the new 2027 Carolyn Boone Lewis Award for Improving Health Outcomes, which recognizes hospitals and health systems’…
Headline
Report tracks decline in availability of hospital obstetric services 
A report on obstetric services in hospitals by the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found that between 2010 and 2024, 718 hospitals…
Headline
HHS awards $11 million for creating new physician residency programs in rural, tribal communities 
The Department of Health and Human Services Sept. 4 announced that it awarded $11.2 million in grants to 15 recipients across 14 states to develop new…
Headline
Webinar to discuss conversion to rural emergency hospital designation
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Health Redesign Center will host a webinar on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. ET, where hospital CEOs will discuss the…
Headline
Registration open for 2027 AHA Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference
The 2027 AHA Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 3 in Orlando, Fla. Join fellow rural hospital CEOs, senior executives, clinical…
Headline
AHA urges CMS to prioritize hospitals, providers with Rural Health Transformation Program funding
The AHA Aug. 5 provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the distribution of funding for the Rural Health Transformation…