Officials discuss risks that rural communities face following hospital closures

JACKSON, Tenn. — Experts say they’re continuing to see an increase in the number of rural hospitals that are closing.

According to the Tennessee Hospital Association, nearly 150 rural hospitals have closed or been converted to other types of facilities over the past 14 years. This makes it difficult for residents in those areas to receive appropriate healthcare.

Doctors speak out about the health and economic consequences of this, and the risks communities face as researchers anticipate more to come. Experts say they are starting to see financial pressures again on hospitals in rural areas.

“Everything from the population in the community changing, often shrinking, lower income that means they are more likely to be uninsured,” said Dr. Mark Holmes, director for North Caroline Rural Health Research.

Hospitals also have to adapt to the changing natures of how medicine is practiced. Doctors say what used to be a three to four day stay can now be done outpatient.

As for the health in rural communities, they lose out on emergency rooms and early screenings, which leads to devastating consequences.

“So cancers get diagnosed later, there is poor management of chronic conditions like diabetes leading to admissions that might have been managed on an outpatient basis if the hospital were still open,” said Dr. Holmes.

Beyond health concerns, there are also economic consequences.

“These are usually the second largest employers in most rural towns, second only to the school system. It’s not just the people employed by the hospital, itself but it’s other businesses that depend on that hospital,” said Dr. Holmes.

One way rural communities are improving health care is through telecare.

“At the end of the day, rural healthcare has to be centered around the assets and the unique position of that local community and policy makers have to recognize that’s what’s going to lead to success,” said Dr. Holmes.

Doctors also say policymakers need to give rural communities the ability to be flexible and leverage the assets that are available.

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