Faced with staffing shortages, administrative strain and geographic barriers, rural hospitals are increasingly adopting AI to expand care access and ease pressure on front-line teams. Rather than pursuing large-scale tech overhauls, many are implementing lightweight, targeted tools that support documentation, scheduling and care coordination.
A new American Hospital Association report released Jan. 26 highlights how hospitals such as Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health and Lewistown-based Central Montana Medical Center are applying AI to improve care delivery without adding staff or infrastructure.
Here are three findings from the report:
1. Documentation support frees up physician time.
Central Montana Medical Center, a 25-bed hospital, introduced ambient AI scribing to reduce the burden of clinical documentation. Physicians reported fewer after-hours charting demands and said the tool allowed them to focus more fully on patient care. Some said they would consider leaving if the tool were taken away.
2. Outreach tools improve appointment follow-up.
Sanford Health implemented an AI-powered outreach system that raised appointment connect rates from 40% to 56%. By automating routine follow-up coordination, the tool helped reduce gaps in care and allowed access teams to focus on higher-value tasks.
3. Virtual care expands behavioral health access.
More than 12,000 patients accessed mental health services for the first time through Sanford’s virtual care program. AI-supported infrastructure, including documentation and remote workflows, enabled clinicians to scale care across rural areas while maintaining quality and continuity, the report said.
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