At Premier Financial Group, we believe that extraordinary healthcare is the cornerstone of a thriving community. While some see the limitations of rural healthcare as insurmountable challenges, we’re working to change the conversation around rural healthcare in Humboldt County and create lasting positive impact for our entire community. In fact, we’ve discovered that our community’s size isn’t a limitation; it’s an advantage that enables more coordinated, personalized care. 

For more than a decade, we’ve been actively investing in and advocating for our local healthcare system. See how our commitment is helping build a stronger, more resilient community — and how similar approaches could transform rural healthcare across the country.

Understanding Rural Healthcare Challenges

In rural communities like ours, healthcare presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. While some may be frustrated about limited access to specialists or the need to travel for certain treatments, Premier recognized that the relentless focus on these limitations was itself becoming a barrier to community health and growth.

Negativity and pessimism leads to a cascade of challenges beyond healthcare: unease and distrust around accessing medical care, stress for patients, and dissuading people and businesses from moving to the community. Perhaps most damaging about this attitude is that it can discourage potential hospital donors, and creates problems in healthcare recruitment and professional morale.

As we’ve learned through conversations with clients and local healthcare leaders, robust medical services are vital to a community’s physical and economic health. Without solid healthcare infrastructure, communities struggle to attract and retain residents, particularly young families and retirees who consider healthcare access a top priority when choosing where to live.

The solution is to strike a delicate balance between acknowledging the inherent limitations of rural healthcare while building upon its strengths. 

Taking a Stand for “Extraordinary Rural Healthcare”

Healthcare facilities serve as economic anchors in rural areas, providing stable employment, attracting skilled professionals, and signaling to businesses and residents that a community has the essential services needed to thrive. This ripple effect makes healthcare investment one of the most impactful ways to support a rural community and economic development.

Nearly a decade ago, Premier made a bold declaration: Humboldt County has extraordinary rural healthcare.

Through our philanthropic efforts, we saw a need to stand for healthcare peace of mind. As Ginger Weber, CFPⓇ and Premier President, says, “Because we stand for our clients around their finances, we saw the connection to healthcare in our community.”

This shift from viewing local healthcare as merely adequate to recognizing it as extraordinary came from understanding the unique advantages of rural medicine. In smaller communities like Humboldt County, healthcare is often more personal. Because of the interconnected nature of small-town life, practitioners often go above and beyond to provide more comprehensive care for their patients. 

This level of care manifests in numerous ways:

  • Healthcare providers who understand the community’s unique needs and limitations
  • Medical professionals who actively coordinate care across available resources
  • A commitment to finding solutions within the constraints of rural medicine
  • Personal attention that’s often harder to find in larger urban settings

The concept of “extraordinary rural healthcare” isn’t about competing with major metropolitan medical centers. Instead, it’s about recognizing and building upon the strengths inherent in rural healthcare delivery. 

Creating Lasting Impact: Premier’s Philanthropic Approach

While we serve clients across the United States, a large percentage of clients live in Humboldt County. Their financial peace of mind is often tied to their healthcare peace of mind. By investing in healthcare, we’re able to support an initiative that has the broadest possible impact across our community. Since 2008, we’ve invested over $1 million in local healthcare initiatives, starting with a pivotal $100,000 donation toward a major hospital expansion project. 

We’ve also developed a sophisticated approach to healthcare philanthropy that maximizes community impact. Working with Providence Hospital, we established a quasi donor-advised fund structure that allows for ongoing strategic investment in healthcare initiatives. This enables us to continue guiding how our donations are used, ensuring funds address the most pressing healthcare needs as they evolve. 

Joining Forces

A cornerstone of our philanthropic strategy is inspiring others to join the cause. We regularly use matching donation challenges to encourage community participation, multiplying the impact of our own contributions. 

Through regular educational meetings and events, we’ve created platforms for healthcare dialogue, bringing together medical professionals, community leaders, and residents to discuss healthcare challenges and solutions. These gatherings raise funds — but also create an informed network of healthcare advocates who understand both the challenges and opportunities in healthcare. 

Addressing Systemic Challenges

Our efforts extend to addressing fundamental healthcare needs. When our community faced a shortage of family practitioners, we supported the creation of a local medical residency program through a partnership between Providence Hospital and Open Door Community Health Centers. The program now trains 18 resident physicians on a rotating basis, with several graduates choosing to remain in the community.

We’ve also recognized the growing need for mental health services, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. Our support extends to initiatives addressing this critical need, including backing plans for a new treatment center focused on mental health and substance abuse care.

Women for Wellness

Ginger Weber also helped launch Women for Wellness, a donor club that creates a substantial pool of funding for specific healthcare needs. What makes this initiative unique is its democratic approach to philanthropy — members vote on which grant requests to fund, ensuring donations align with community priorities. 

Recent funded projects include:

  • Lucas chest compression machines that provide more consistent care for cardiac patients
  • Advanced bladder scanners that improve patient care and staff efficiency
  • Specialized exam table for sexual assault victims designed to better serve pediatric and disabled patients

Building Community Through Healthcare

Through our comprehensive approach to healthcare philanthropy, we’re demonstrating how a local business can catalyze meaningful change in their community. Our work shows that improving rural healthcare requires more than just financial investment — it needs strategic thinking, community engagement, and a long-term commitment to building sustainable solutions. 

Weber says, “When we share this commitment with other like-minded people who care about the community, we can make a difference. It has the potential to impact everybody.”

By bringing together medical professionals, community leaders, and residents in support of healthcare excellence, we’re helping build a stronger, healthier future for Humboldt County. And we believe our approach can serve as a model for other rural areas facing similar healthcare challenges. We encourage other communities to take their own stand for extraordinary rural healthcare and discover how they too can inspire positive change through collaborative action.