Author: hmicorp

Rural hospitals are closing across the country. Naysayers may say it’s the end of rural healthcare as we know it. However, many hospitals are flipping this trend on its head.
America’s best rural hospitals are thriving in uncertain times by expanding care, taking advantage of telemedicine, and specializing in in-demand areas.
By taking this approach, rural hospitals have grown revenue even when dealing with aging populations, higher-than-average Medicare patient totals, and other challenges that have sunk competing providers.
Today, we’re exploring four more rural hospital success stories from small towns across the United States.

Gold Beach, Oregon Hospital Increases Services, Becomes Economic Driver for Region

Gold Beach, Oregon is a small, relatively isolated community along a picturesque section of Oregon’s southern coast.
For decades, the community was served by a small, outdated facility built in the 1950s. The facility exclusively provided acute care, meaning patients had to travel long distances to access specialized medical treatment.
Things became progressively worse for Gold Beach’s Curry General Hospital over the years. The facility could no longer meet local needs, and the building itself was not compliant with building doctors. The facility struggled to attract and retain doctors.
Things changed when the hospital received new funding. Residents of the Curry Health District approved a $10 million fund to fund construction on the facility. The hospital received an additional $20.9 million through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program. By taking advantage of favorable interest rates and 40-year terms, the rural district was able to afford considerable healthcare spending it would normally be unable to afford.

Kalispell, Montana Emphasizes Outdoor Lifestyle to Attract Talent

Some rural hospitals have turned a disadvantage into an opportunity. Rural hospitals can be isolated – but that doesn’t mean they can’t attract talent.
Kalispell, Montana is a relatively isolated city in a picturesque corner of the state. Although isolated, the city is surrounded by world-class ski hills, Glacier National Park, multiple lakes, and considerable outdoor adventure opportunities.
By emphasizing these opportunities, Kalispell has attracted high-quality medical care to the region regardless of the remoteness.
On July 1, 2020, Kalispell Regional Healthcare opened the first floor of Montana Children’s. The $60 million facility was funded by debt, operating reserves, and philanthropy.
The opening is a big deal for the city of Kalispell. Previously, Kalispell residents needed to visit Spokane, Washington – four hours away across multiple wintry mountain passes – to get similar patient care for children. Parents of children with chronic diseases were forced to move to Spokane, Denver, and other larger cities – or face multiple harrowing drives each winter.
Now, thanks to the new opening, Kalispell residents can access quality patient care even in a relatively remote area.

North Dakota Hospital Thrives Thanks to Booming Oil and Gas Operations

In neighboring North Dakota, hospitals have faced a surge in revenue thanks to the booming oil and gas industry.
North Dakota’s McKenzie County saw its population double between 2010 and 2020, due mostly to oil and gas operations in the region. As the population grew from 6,000 to over 12,000, local legislators recognized the urgent need to expand healthcare.
Using federal and state loans, funding from the oil industry and private citizens, and a sales tax increase, the region opened the new McKenzie County Hospital in Watford City in June 2018.
Before the opening the hospital, residents had to drive 50 minutes to access surgeries and preventative healthcare services. Today, residents of the 12,000-person county enjoy high-quality healthcare even in a relatively remote, rural setting.
And, like Kalispell, McKenzie County has attracted talent by emphasizing the rural setting:
“Not everybody wants to live in a city, and not everybody should, and there are great places in America that should not have to suffer with second-class health care,” explains Patsy Levang, board chair of McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, in a statement to US News.

Mississippi Town, Population 1,600, Revitalizes Local Economy with Federal Grant

Mississippi’s Field Memorial Community Hospital (FMCH) is located in a town of 1,600 residents. While other hospitals serving similarly-sized towns close down, FMCH is taking the opposite approach.
Thanks to a federal grant, FMCH is building a new $21 million facility that will introduce big changes to local residents.
Centreville is located about 130 miles northwest of New Orleans, and approximately one-third of residents live below the poverty line.
The goal is to use FMCH as an economic driver for the region.
“A lot of times in the rural communities your health care systems are your economic drivers, and that’s true here,” explains Chad Netterville, chief executive of the Field Memorial Community Hospital, in a statement to NY Times, which covered the expansion in April 2015.
Today, Centreville has a 16-bed hospital thanks to the federal economic development program designed specifically to increase investment in low income communities. By targeting rural hospitals and expanding patient care, federal grants can revitalize local economies while contributing to higher-quality patient care.

Final Word

Since 2010, more than 100 rural hospitals across the country have closed down, according to a study from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
While times are tough for some rural hospitals, others have succeeded despite these challenges. They’ve turned challenges into opportunities, taking risks where other hospitals are not willing.
Contact HMI, LLC today for expert revenue cycle management consulting, chargemaster service consulting, coding services, and more. Founded in 1989, HMI, LLC has revitalized small and large healthcare organizations across the county.

Healthcare organizations have many opportunities to train employees and enhance organizational revenue.
By taking advantage of these opportunities, healthcare organizations can significantly improve their bottom line.
From lean healthcare workshops to continuing education programs to other professional training systems, employee training opportunities can enhance organizational revenue in various ways.
Today, we’re exploring some of the best employee training opportunities for small and large healthcare organizations.

Lean Healthcare Workshops

Lean healthcare workshops can singlehandedly change an organization’s bottom line. The idea of running a lean organization is nothing new in and out of healthcare – but healthcare organizations across the country are increasingly taking advantage of lean healthcare workshops to implement new techniques, philosophies, and management systems.
Some of the topics covered in a lean healthcare workshop include:
• An overview of lean healthcare practices, philosophies, and systems and how they work
• How all elements of a healthcare organization work together to create a lean organization
• Specific examples of healthcare organizations successfully implementing lean practices to rejuvenate operations
• How to identify core problems at a healthcare organization, including specific trouble spots that can benefit from a lean healthcare philosophy
By scheduling a lean healthcare workshop, organizations can discover the best practices modern organizations are using to maximize revenue while minimizing losses.

Positive Work Environment Workshops

Many healthcare organizations recognize the importance of employee revenue training and employee certifications.
However, many organizations overlook another crucial aspect of patient care: a quality work environment, good employee relationships, and a good work-life balance.
Employee turnover is a significant expense for healthcare organizations. According to Employee Benefits News, employee turnover costs a company approximately $15,000 per employee who makes an average salary of $45,000. For employees who make a higher salary, the cost of employee turnover is much higher.
The top reasons employees leave a healthcare organization are:
• Career development, and an inability to grow or expand their skills at their current employee
• Work-life balance, particularly among younger adults or parents
• Management behavior, including the way managers treat employees and the things employees expect from managers
By addressing these areas, healthcare organizations are better able to attract and retain talent.
One of the best ways to address these areas is with employee training and workshops. Available training programs include:
Stress Management Workshops: Some employers invest in stress management workshops. These workshops explain how to reduce emotional exhaustion, manage stress, manage anger, and encourage positive thinking. By clarifying goals and team roles, these workshops can prevent employees from suffering negative consequences related to their work.
Employee Training Investments: Employees like to feel valued. They like to feel an employer has invested into their careers and development. It makes an employee less likely to leave. A growing number of healthcare organizations fund employee training, specialization, and certification programs. By investing in a healthcare employee, you get a better employee who is less likely to leave.
Work-Life Balance Initiatives: Work-life balance initiatives promote employee loyalty, making it less likely for skilled talent to leave for competing organizations.

Computer-based Training Modules

Healthcare is more computerized than it’s ever been before – yet many hospitals continue to use aging infrastructure.
Hospitals with aging infrastructure risk being left behind. As competitors invest in employee training initiatives and big technology, some organizations risk dropping behind their competitors.
Offer computer-based training modules to employees. Make sure employees understand how to use – and maximize the benefits of – healthcare technology. Take advantage of big data. Give tablets to patients.
There’s more healthcare technology available today than ever before, and it’s impossible for an organization to utilize all of it – but the sooner your organization invests in healthcare technology training initiatives, the more successful the organization will be in the long run.

Final Word

The health system offers thousands of training courses each year. Some of these courses are mandatory to maintain certification. Others are optional.
By emphasizing the right healthcare training programs, organizations can succeed, grow revenue, and retain talent.

Rural hospitals face considerable challenges throughout the country. While some rural hospitals thrive in challenging situations, others falter.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the best success stories of rural hospitals across America, including situations where ingenuity, creativity, and flexibility saved small hospitals in rural settings.

Rural Hospital in Beatrice, Nebraska Specializes in Healthcare for Older Adults

Rural areas of America tend to have older populations than urban areas. This increases challenges for rural hospitals.
It’s hard enough running a small, rural hospital. These challenges increase with older populations who have larger, more complicated healthcare needs – and who also tend to be Medicare patients.
Despite these challenges, a small hospital in Beatrice, Nebraska is thriving by implementing a seemingly obvious solution: they’ve invested in aging healthcare, allowing them to specialize in the specific areas where older adults need them most.
The average age in Beatrice, Nebraska is 6 years older than the average age in Nebraska. It’s an older, rural town with a population of 12,200 people.
To address these challenges, the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center (BCHHC) has implemented a range of solutions. BCHHC has continued to grow, opening a new building while doubling patient numbers since 2009.
What did BCCHC do differently? The hospital made significant investments in treating and serving the area’s aging residents. As the town’s population gets increasingly older, several nursing homes have opened in town, with BCCHC being the primary medical hub for these residents.
Today, BCHHC is the second largest employer in Beatrice. It has a 25-bed hospital employing 512 people with a payroll of $28 million. The hospital earned $100 million in revenue last year – even as other businesses are leaving Beatrice en masse.
Because of their foresight, the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center continues to thrive amid uncertain times for small, rural hospitals.

Small Hospital Thrives in 6,500 Person Town in Indiana

Similar to the BCHHC success story, Margaret Mary Community Hospital has succeeded in Batesville, Indiana by specializing in caring for older adults.
Batesville, Indiana is home to 6,500 people. To address their needs, Margaret Mary Community Hospital has built a rheumatology program specifically catered to the town’s aging population.
Like Beatrice, Batesville has an older than average population. By focusing on what they do well, and addressing the town’s healthcare needs, Margaret Mary Community Hospital has achieved success.
All of this healthcare investment attracts older retirees to the area. Residents can buy a three-bedroom home in Beatrice for around $70,000. With good healthcare and a low cost of living, Batesville’s future – and the future of Margaret Mary Community Hospital – looks bright.

Childress, Texas Hospital Grows in One of America’s Toughest Markets

Texas has been hit particularly hard by the rural health crisis in the United States. Small hospitals across the state have closed over the past two decades.
Despite these challenges, the hospital in Childress, Texas remains a success story. The 39-bed non-profit Childress Regional Medical Center is one of he few Texas hospitals operating profitably in these times.
What has Childress Regional Medical Center done differently? Some of the strategies implemented by the hospital include:
• The hospital offers expanded services, which means local residents no longer have to drive two hours to reach the nearest hospital; this approach led to nearly 1,000 new patient visits in the most recent fiscal year
• ¬Childress Regional Medical Center has invested in telemedicine units while also increasing the number of doctors and hours at its primary care clinic – all while competing hospitals have taken an opposite approach by cutting hours and service
By expanding staff and hours, Childress Regional Medical Center has become the go-to hospital for patients throughout the region.
Locals no longer have to travel hours to visit neighboring medical centers, for example, because the hospital hired an orthopedic surgeon in 2013. The hospital also hired an oncologist who visits the hospital once per month, with specialists in urology and cardiology visiting Childress Regional Medical Center on a similar schedule.
The hospital has also received a boost with telemedicine. Telemedicine allows physicians at Childress Regional Medical Center to consult with specialists at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, making it easier to handle complex cases.
For all of these reasons, Childress Regional Medical Center continues to be a notable success story in a state where rural hospitals face increasing challenges.

Haleyville, Alabama Hospital Reverses Closure After Community Funding Effort

Rural hospitals exist because of their communities. Sometimes, the community needs to save the hospital – not the other away around.
Such was the case in Haleyville, Alabama. In 2017, Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, a town of around 4,000 people, announced it was closing down due to declining profits. After the closure, the closest emergency room would have been a 45-minute drive away.
The community banded together in response. Haleyville’s mayor, Ken Sunseri, began making calls to other hospitals in the region to explore how other legislators handled similar situations.
Mayor Sunseri repeatedly received similar advice: take ownership of the hospital and fight to keep it open – so that’s exactly what Haleyville did. Hospital employees worked extra shifts as the city worked to acquire the hospital from Tennessee-based Curae Health, which had recently filed for bankruptcy. Local authorities approved a 1% sales tax and an increase in county property tax to help fund the hospital.
Like rural Texas, rural Alabama has faced significant issues with hospital closures. The success story of Haleyville’s Lakeland Community Hospital shows it can take a community effort to save a rural hospital – but the effort is often worth it.

What’s Next for Rural Hospitals?

The success stories above show that rural hospitals can thrive even in uncertain times. While rural hospitals face challenges across the country, many hospitals continue to thrive, grow, and expand.
Request a free consultation with HMI, LLC today and get leading healthcare consultation from an organization with 30+ years of experience in revenue cycle management, medical coding services, physician services, chargemaster services, compliance, and more for all sizes of healthcare organizations.

Our consultant specialist can provide education and training both on-site and off-site on various topics for facilities and/or physicians (provider-based, teaching or independent practice). HMI specialists can provide Healthcare Compliance Training and Education for Physicians, Providers and Facilities.

healthcare compliance training and education for physicians & facility

Our consultant specialist can provide an assessment of the process as well as medical record review services for completeness of physician and clinical staff for documentation. Education can be provided to all staff. HMI Provides Physician Documentation Audit, Clinical Documentation Compliance Review and Audit, Improvement Program and Training Program for Healthcare, hospitals and physician practices who want to identify missing charges and improve documentation accuracy.

Clinical Documentation Audit, Physicians Compliance Review Nashville TN

Our coding specialists will perform a comprehensive review of the RAC findings cited in the demand letter, patient medical record, and corresponding final billed claim to determine if the hospital documentation and/or billing information is appropriate. Where applicable, this service can be expanded to assist the hospital in appealing the reason for denial of entire claim or specific services. HMI Provides Recovery Audit Services will perform a review of the RAC findings Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors, Medicare RAC Audits, Healthcare Compliance Audits to the Hospitals and Healthcare Providers.

Recovery Audit Contractor RAC Audit Findings & Appeal Services Nashville

Our consultant specialists will perform the claims reviews required under the Client’s Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA), prepare required reports for the Office of Inspector General (OIG), make recommendations for Client’s corrective action plan and provide necessary staff training and education on current coding and billing methodologies. We also assess the providers billing and coding practices and compliance obligations under the CIA and Medicare rules and regulations. HMI provides medical billing and coding compliance and compliance program audit services, medicare compliance audit, claims audit, Independent Review Organization IRO Claims Review and Audit Services for compliance process.

Independent Review Organization IRO Claims Review and Audit Nashville

Our consultant specialists will perform a comprehensive review of the patient medical record to ensure that the IRF admissions were appropriate to meet medical necessity and the documentation and staff services satisfied the minimum CMS requirements. The review will confirm all the requirements for are met for completing the preadmission, physician admission order, history and physical, individualized plan of care, interdisciplinary team meetings, IRF patient assessment instrument (PAI). HMI Performs a Review of Medical Records for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) in Nashville.

Review of Medical Records for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF)

Our consultant specialists will perform a comprehensive review of the patient medical record to ensure all charges are captured appropriately, reimbursement is optimal for the services provided, and a schedule exists for filing the minimum data set (MDS) and claims in a timely manner. HMI Performs Medical Records Review for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) in Nashville.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medical Records Review for Reimbursement

Our consultant specialists will perform a comprehensive review of the hospice documentation to validate the billed HCPCS code for service location, HCPCS codes for visit disciplines (SN, CNS, SW, etc.), units, diagnoses codes, and billable supplies. A thorough review of the medical record documentation against the hospital final billed claim will confirm reporting accuracy. The key documents such as the certification of terminal illness, plan of care, and Interdisciplinary group (IDG/IDT) meetings are reviewed for completeness and accuracy in accordance with the episode of care. HMI is leading Hospice Revenue Cycle Management Companies and Coding Services.

Hospice Revenue Cycle Management | Claim Review, Coding Nashville TN