Across Texas, community hospitals are doing more than providing care — they are sustaining the health, identity, and stability of their regions. Yet, as rural hospitals continue to face mounting financial and operational pressures, one thing has become clear: a hospital’s strength depends not only on its balance sheet, but also on the depth of its relationship with its community.

That shared belief is what brought Groundswell Health and HealthConnect together.

A Partnership to Strengthen the Connection Between Hospitals and Communities

Through this collaboration, Groundswell Health expands and amplifies the reach of the HealthConnect initiative, a grant-supported program that equips rural hospital leaders with the tools to deepen community trust, foster engagement, and ensure long-term sustainability.

HealthConnect’s model combines research, facilitation, and strategy to help hospitals and their local stakeholders build shared understanding and alignment around the hospital’s mission. The result is a stronger, more resilient healthcare system — one grounded in local ownership and community partnership.

“We’ve seen firsthand that when hospitals and communities work together, everyone benefits,” said Barry Couch, founder of HealthConnect. “HealthConnect provides a clear framework for turning that collaboration into measurable results.”

The Program in Action: Cuero, Llano, and Electra

HealthConnect’s impact is already visible in hospitals across the state.

In Cuero, CEO Lynn Falcone and her team used the HealthConnect process to engage civic and business leaders in identifying shared priorities for healthcare access and growth. The result was a renewed sense of trust and collaboration — and a stronger awareness of how the hospital anchors the community’s economy and wellbeing.

In Llano, Pat McDowell, president, Llano County Hospital Authority, credits the program with uniting hospital leadership, local officials, and residents around a common goal: ensuring the hospital’s long-term independence. “HealthConnect helped us have the conversations we needed,” McDowell said. “It gave everyone a voice — and that’s what built alignment.”

And in Electra, HealthConnect facilitated productive dialogue between hospital administrators and local leaders, helping the community recognize its hospital as an essential part of its identity and future prosperity.

Each of these hospitals shares a common story: that proactive community connection is one of the most powerful tools for protecting local healthcare.

Why It Matters Now

According to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed since 2005 — 25 of them in Texas. Each closure leaves a ripple effect: lost jobs, reduced access to care, and weakened local economies.

HealthConnect exists to stop that trend. Backed by grant support from Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the program helps rural hospitals build stronger foundations through local engagement and leadership development — ensuring the next generation of hospital leaders inherit a system built on trust and sustainability.

Looking Ahead

Together, Groundswell Health and HealthConnect are expanding this effort across Texas and beyond. By combining HealthConnect’s proven framework with Groundswell’s expertise in strategic communication, this partnership will help more hospitals engage their communities, strengthen their operations, and secure their future.

“We share the same purpose: helping hospitals stay strong, independent, and trusted by the communities they serve,” said Lance Lunsford, senior partner at Groundswell Health. “This collaboration gives us the opportunity to extend that impact even further.”

Hospitals interested in participating in the 2026 HealthConnect cohort can learn more and submit their interest at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hchca