ABOVE: Rick Ash, CEO of United Hospital District (UHD).

FAIRMONT– Today is Rural Health Day and the Minnesota Department of Health has recently recognized United Hospital District’s (UHD) executive director, Rick Ash, with the 2025 Minnesota Community Star Award.

Ash was one of just four individuals and two organizations state-wide to receive recognition from the MDH Office of Rural Health and Primary Care.

Garry Bowman, a public information officer with MDH, said that they solicit applications for the award every year.

“We get lots and lots of people who are qualified that get nominated. A committee goes through and rates, scores and selects,” Bowman said. “We do try to select the best amongst those and Rick was one of them.”

Bowman further said that the Community Star Award is the highest profile award given across each state’s rural health office and that Ash will receive national recognition as the winner from Minnesota.

Ash has been recognized for his work to improve and expand rural health services in Greater Minnesota and for his long-time service in state and local organizations representing and promoting rural health.

He’s been with UHD now for more than 10 years and has long had a passion for rural health care, having grown up in a rural area himself.

“I’ve always lived in small towns. I know what it’s like to live with health care and without health care in those areas. That’s my passion– I do what I can do,” Ash said.

UHD has long had a commitment to keep health care local. Its hospital is based in Blue Earth with clinics in Blue Earth, Wells and a new one in Fairmont that opened about two years ago.

“I think most people, myself included, I want to be taken care of by people I know and who know me,” Ash said. “I think people want their care close to home in general.”

He noted that that’s not always possible as some procedures, such as brain surgery or other very specialized services, will need to be done out of most people’s community.

“But it’s a pretty big deal in some cases to have to leave the community for care,” Ash said.

Being able to offer care in a rural community oftentimes comes down to having the providers available locally. Ash acknowledged that recruitment is difficult and something that UHD also struggles with, though it has had moderate success.

“It’s not like it was 25 or 30 years ago as I remember it,” he said. “This is the worst that I’ve seen. That being said, why is it different for us? I would say our organization is set up to be a culture of inclusion with the recognition that all of us are part of the solution, regardless of the title that we wear on our badge.”

He said that that provides a different environment for people to work in and want to do their best in. Ash added that because UHD is structured as an independent health care center, it has the voice of their clinicians at the table.

“We’re making decisions and doing things that I believe are inclusive and understanding of a team concept,” he said.

Speaking to why Ash thinks it’s important to have a day recognizing rural health, he said, “We’re all human beings and from my perspective and from ours at UHD, just because we live in a rural area and our zip code is different than maybe Rochester or Minneapolis, it doesn’t mean we should have less health care.”

Ash noted that the external environment can have a big impact on a health care facility from the government shutdown to the state legislature cutting reimbursement.

“There’s so many different ways we can get impacted if we’re not making sure we’re out there and having a voice,” he said.

Ash is therefore active in a number of organizations. Currently he is a member of the Minnesota Hospital Association where he’s involved in the policy and advocacy committee. He is also a member of MDH’s Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) Program Advisory Committee.

“I’m on the board of the Minnesota Rural Health Association. That’s an organization that works to help and promote rural health care and provide resources and ways to support and keep rural heath care available in communities,” Ash said.

In looking at the future of rural health care, Ash remains cautious but optimistic. He said that UHD is in a good position now because there happens to be changes in the external environment that they are able to help meet. He also said UHD is doing well internally because of its culture and because of community support.

However, he said UHD still faces challenges and he said he’s worried by seeing larger organizations pull back their services and what that could mean for those left behind.

“This is happening nation-wide. This isn’t just an anomaly in Martin and Faribault County. This is much larger than that. What’s left of the rural hospitals to pick up the pieces?” he said.

For now though, Ash and his team at UHD remain committed to keeping care local and he’s grateful for this recognition, though he didn’t want to take all of the credit.

“It isn’t just one individual. Honestly I really don’t do anything if it wasn’t for all the people here and the compassion they have. That’s what makes it real. It isn’t just one individual, it’s a village,” Ash said.