rural hospitals

Hospital leadership says the new status allows the facility to “better align our resources with the healthcare needs of the community.” Nowata residents are grappling with how to move forward without inpatient services, which they argue are essential for Nowata County.

The researcher makes the case for investments in facilities that lack the funds to evaluate and implement it safely.

The new course’s goal is to strengthen the capabilities of current and emerging healthcare leaders, equip them with practical tools and help them build a network of peers to share best practices with.

Ascension St. John is seeking federal approval to turn its Nowata hospital into a rural emergency facility, which would mean ending acute inpatient and swing-bed services

Hospital leaders are asking for facility-specific projections amid predicted changes to supplemental hospital payment programs, arguing the funding differences will affect individual hospitals differently.

Nearly 2,000 Oklahomans die from stroke-related complications annually. That burden is felt more in rural communities, where access to specialized care is limited.

The agency provided updates on its plans during a webinar Thursday.

The state received one of the highest Rural Health Transformation Program investments nationally, only ranking behind California, Montana, Alaska and Texas.

Alongside the passage of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending reductions over a decade, Oklahoma is also vying for an opportunity available to all 50 states to fund sustainable rural health care initiatives.

“Country Doctor,” a documentary now streaming on HBO Max, highlights the crises rural hospitals face amid provider shortages and a lack of resources.