Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center
Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center
Hospital Leadership Training
In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly implemented a training requirement for rural hospital executives, board members, and hospital authority members. The legislation, HB 769, delegated responsibility for the creation of training standards, approval of vendors, and monitoring of compliance to the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center.
In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 31-2-16 training approved by the Center must be completed by “the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, every board member, and every hospital authority member, if operated by a hospital authority pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 7 of this title, of a rural hospital organization as defined in Code Section 31-8- 9.1”. Such individuals are required to “complete an education program approved by the center pursuant to this paragraph no later than December 31, 2020, or within 12 months of initial hiring or appointment and every two years thereafter.
On June 10, 2019 the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center published curriculum standards and guidance for the Hospital Leadership Training Program. Fifty-seven (57) hospitals were required to complete as per the training mandate, with all 57 participating and 56 completing and in full compliance prior to January 1, 2021. Within the 57 hospitals, 583 out of 584 completed the training, resulting in a 99.83% compliance rate.