Rural hospitals are struggling in many areas, in part because the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation was created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to make rural hospitals band-aid stations.
Thank you for pointing out the struggles of rural hospitals. Having worked in a number CAH facilities, I would say that many nurses and especially ED physicians have become very skilled at taking care of seriously ill patients, if only because they have no other options. There are few accepting hospitals and few ambulances or helicopters available.
Yes, as you point out, physicians in rural areas are in a double bind. Their CAH hospitals are offering fewer and fewer services, but the physicians and nurses are being asked to take care of sicker and sicker patients. Still pondering how physicians can bring some resolution to this double bind.
Thank you for pointing out the struggles of rural hospitals. Having worked in a number CAH facilities, I would say that many nurses and especially ED physicians have become very skilled at taking care of seriously ill patients, if only because they have no other options. There are few accepting hospitals and few ambulances or helicopters available.
Yes, as you point out, physicians in rural areas are in a double bind. Their CAH hospitals are offering fewer and fewer services, but the physicians and nurses are being asked to take care of sicker and sicker patients. Still pondering how physicians can bring some resolution to this double bind.