One Hospital-Five Doors: A Model for Critical Access Hospital Sustainability

Abstract

Background: We wanted to assess whether a regional approach to bed management and staffing could improve financial sustainability without reducing services in rural communities.

Methods: Regional approaches to patient placement, hospital throughput, and staffing were coupled with enhanced services at 1 hub hospital and 4 critical access hospitals.

Results: We improved the use of patient beds in the 4 critical access hospitals, increased hub hospital capacity, and improved the health system's financial performance while maintaining or enhancing services at the critical access hospitals.

Discussion: Sustainability of critical access hospitals can be attained without a decrease in services for rural patients and communities. One way to achieve this result is to invest in and enhance care at the rural site.