By Mike Cason

al.com

The struggles of Alabama’s rural hospitals are not a new problem but there are new factors - some that could hurt their efforts to survive and some that could help.

AL.com recently talked with Danne Howard, president and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association about those developments.

The association’s board of trustees selected Howard to lead the organization when Dr. Don Williamson retired last summer. Howard is the first woman to serve as president and CEO.

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Howard has worked for the association for almost three decades, including as deputy director and chief operating officer.

Alabama has 52 rural hospitals.

Williamson told AL.com in March that 27 of the state’s rural hospitals were at r

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