By Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network
SCOTTSBLUFF, NE — The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jordan Colwell as its new Executive Director. A dynamic and visionary leader with deep roots in rural healthcare, Colwell brings a wealth of experience and passion for advancing high- quality, patient-centered close to home.
Formed in 2011, RNHN was established to formally address shared challenges among rural healthcare facilities, most notably the need for modern telecommunications infrastructure. Through a groundbreaking $17 million Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rural Health Care Pilot Project, RNHN built a robust broadband fiber optic network connecting nine hospitals and 32 affiliated clinics. The initiative dramatically improved telecommunications capacity, delivering more than 600 times the bandwidth of the previous T1 lines. This broadband network now links:
Regional West Medical Center (Scottsbluff)
Box Butte General Hospital (Alliance)
Chadron Community Hospital (Chadron)
Garden County Health Services (Oshkosh)
Gordon Memorial Hospital (Gordon)
Kimball Health Services (Kimball)
Memorial Health Center (Sidney)
Morrill County Community Hospital (Bridgeport)
Perkins County Health Services (Grant)
Today, RNHN continues to thrive as a collaborative network guided by a board of hospital CEOs and supported by leadership teams from member facilities. The organization remains committed to improving patient safety, enhancing clinical quality, and fostering innovation throughout its member hospitals and clinics.
Dr. Colwell most recently served as Chief Nursing Officer at Box Butte General Hospital, where he led the implementation of a transformative patient care model that significantly improved both staff and patient satisfaction. His previous roles include faculty member and Chair of the Health Sciences Division at Western Nebraska Community College, as well as Director of Clinical Services from 2015 to 2019, overseeing 28 specialty clinics and leading over 120 nursing staff.
A U.S. Air Force Reserve Captain and former flight nurse, Colwell earned a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2019 and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Clarkson College in 2023. He also brings a strong commitment to public service, having served eight years on the Scottsbluff City Council. He currently serves on several community boards, including the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska, Open Sky Policy Institute, and Kids First Daycare Parent Advisory Board. He is also the Treasurer for Knights of Columbus Council 2681.