ALEXANDRIA BAY â For the first time, River Hospital has been recognized as a 2021 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, and was the only New York hospital to be included.
The 11th annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nationâs rural hospitals based on the results of the Hospital Strength Index. Based entirely on publicly available data, the index is the industryâs most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance.
These top performers, excelling in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and operating at a lower cost than their peers are meant to serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities as they strive to achieve similar results and provide a blueprint for successfully navigating the uncertainty of the new health care.
March 12, 2021
Congressman Adam Kinzinger- Studstill Media Photo
WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger has reintroduced a bill to help support rural medical care. The Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act would expand the Critical Access Hospital program in order to stabilize vulnerable hospitals until a long-term payment model is developed. Congressman Kinzinger first introduced the bill in December of 2019 with bipartisan support.
“Rural hospitals are critical in communities across IL-16 and the country. As we continue to battle COVID-19, we must take swift action to protect the critical healthcare infrastructure providing care in our rural communities.” Kinzinger said in a statement Thursday.
Voters in Henry County have approved an expanded lease agreement between Henry County Health Center (HCHC) in Mount Pleasant and Great River Health (GRH) based in West Burlington.
In a special election Tuesday, yes votes for the measure were 1,236 while no votes were 850, making for 59% approval of the 2,092 ballots cast. That gives GRH the greenlight to lease HCHC’s facilities and assets, and will operate the health center starting July 1, a move expected to provide financial stability to HCHC, a Critical Access Hospital, and will ensure health care continues to be managed locally.
HCHC Board of Trustees Chairman Kent Severson says they are thrilled residents have voted to secure the future of local health care. He also notes HCHC is celebrating its 100th year serving the county and they can welcome that milestone while ensuring quality health care stays close to home for years to come.
From Providence/St. Joseph:
As a result of declining birth volumes across Humboldt County, especially in the Eel River Valley, and the county-wide loss of women’s services physicians, Redwood Memorial Hospital (RMH) plans to close its obstetrics program on July 1, 2021. Childbirth services will be transitioned to the obstetrics program at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka (SJE), incorporating the staff and the legacy of both programs to create a single, high-quality childbirth center, supported by a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
“Operationally, it’s been very challenging to support both programs. The decision to transition services was not taken lightly and we know this is nobody’s preference,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D. chief executive for Providence in Humboldt County. “However, this is a trend that is happening across the country in rural communities. By focusing services at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, we will be able to recruit additional physicia
Posted By Kimberly Wear@kimberly wear on Fri, Feb 26, 2021 at 11:40 AM Nearly a decade after the idea was last proposed, Providence (formerly St. Joseph Health System) today announced the birthing center at Redwood Memorial Hospital is set to close July 1, with deliveries being transitioned over to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. In a news release, the health care system cited declining birth levels across the county, but especially in the Eel River region, and a loss of “women’s services physicians.” Operationally, it’s been very challenging to support both programs. The decision to transition services was not taken lightly and we know this is nobody’s preference,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, chief executive for Providence in Humboldt County, said in a release. “However, this is a trend that is happening across the country in rural communities. By focusing services at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, we w