Daniel DeBehnke, the study's co-author and a managing director with Navigant's health care practice.įor Kaiser Health News Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin says he knows his town will never have another full-service hospital - but he doesn't think it needs one. "Frankly, it's not getting better," said Dr. A national analysis of Medicare cost reports found that 21% of the nation's remaining rural hospitals are at high risk of closing. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. 19 in this year alone, according to data from the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Since 2010, 120 rural hospitals have closed across the U.S. Rates of smoking and premature births are relatively high, and people often die younger than the national average. More rural residents live with chronic conditions, like diabetes, that affect their daily lives, and a higher percentage of residents are older. Nationwide, death rates have been higher in rural America compared with rates in urban areas since the 1980s, and the gap continues to widen. "Although we all wish we had a hospital - no doubt about it." It's not "all gloom and doom," insurance agent Don Doherty said during the town's weekly Chamber of Commerce coffee on Dec. The emergency department, after closing for 18 days, was reopened, at least for now, and is run by a hospital 30 miles south. Most of the handful of physicians in town stayed, taking jobs at a regional federally qualified health care center that took over much of the clinic work from Mercy. That beloved hospital closed one year ago, and in the passing months, the small town's anger and fear evolved into grief, nervousness and - lately - pragmatic hope. It's a new perk Self didn't have when he worked at Mercy Hospital. The scribe gives the doctor the ability to "focus on people," rather than toggling between a computer screen and the patient. Behind him sits another staff member - a medical scribe. But, first, Self makes sure the little girl opens her mouth wide, and he peers down. Two-year-old Taelyn's brown eyes grow round, and her tiny hand reaches out. More than 20 years as a family doctor in rural Fort Scott, Kan., has taught him a few tricks for dealing with little kids: "I've got my flashlight. Max Self grabs a sanitary wipe and cleans off the small flashlight in his hands.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |