NEWS
Lincoln Hospital CFO Tim O’Connell says closing the Davenport hospital’s long-term care services in 2012 has had a “big impact.” YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS RURAL HEALTH CARE
Pinched for Resources Rural hospitals in Washington state are shaking things up as they face an increasingly difficult financial environment BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL
W
ith the sun shining, fresh snow on the mountain, and skis cutting through the fresh powder, the morning couldn’t be better. But then: an ache, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Is this a heart attack? From this elevation, where is the closest hospital? For skiers at the Bluewood ski hill, it’s Dayton General, about an hour east of the Tri-Cities, where a cardiac center can help heart patients and stabilize them if they need to be transferred. But like many rural hospitals, Dayton’s,
which is run by the Columbia County Health System, has struggled to remain financially viable. “When people have accidents, they have this expectation with the 911 system there’s a hospital nearby,” says Shane McGuire, CEO of Columbia County Health System. “I’m fearful that we’re close to that not being a reality.” The threat of closure is a big deal when the next closest hospital can be more than an hour away. With medical emergencies like a stroke or heart attack, every minute it takes to get to care counts when it comes to
saving heart and brain tissue. With the Affordable Care Act, much of the national health care conversation in recent years has centered on access to insurance. But even as more people are getting coverage to help pay for care, the providers they need nearby aren’t a sure thing. Over the past decade, more than 80 rural hospitals around the country have had to close their doors because they couldn’t make things pencil out. Many others are at risk. The good news: Washington state is working to prevent the loss of rural access ...continued on next page
DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018
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