Thank you Dr. Rogers for raising this important issue.
1. Rural Critical Access Hospitals DO provide important local services for select patients. Not every elderly pneumonia patient should be transported 2 hours to a tertiary hospital. The scope of services needs to be clearly defined and funded.
2. Rural Critical Access Hospitals need systems of training and quality monitoring so that standards of care are met.
3. A nod of appreciation to ACEP Rural Section for endorsing Comprehensive Advanced Life Support training, a team based, evidence based training for rural Emergency Departments.
4. Regionally directed, adequately funded, paramedic staffed EMS is critical in addressing needs of rural communities.
5. The role of PAs certified in Emergency Medicine coupled with telemedicine is an effective and cost effective way to deliver emergency care in rural hospitals or free-standing EDs.
6. All rural hospitals should establish close collaborative linkages with tertiary facilities for referral, consultation, training and outreach.
ACEP and the Society of Emergency Medicine PAs need to lead advocacy efforts for comprehensive reform of rural emergency health care, based on the above points.
One of the easiest ways to help save our rural hospitals is to encourage states that have refused to expand Medicaid to accept the generous subisdy offered by the Federal taxpayer (100% initially but never less than 90%) and expand the program so that all of the citizens of their state will be covered. The idea that americans who earn less than a thousand dollars a month dont deserve health care is hard to understand in a country that pretends to admire the actions of the good samaritan.
2 Responses to “Rural Hospital Closures Leave Whole Communities Without Access to Emergency Care”
February 1, 2015
JGraykoskiThank you Dr. Rogers for raising this important issue.
1. Rural Critical Access Hospitals DO provide important local services for select patients. Not every elderly pneumonia patient should be transported 2 hours to a tertiary hospital. The scope of services needs to be clearly defined and funded.
2. Rural Critical Access Hospitals need systems of training and quality monitoring so that standards of care are met.
3. A nod of appreciation to ACEP Rural Section for endorsing Comprehensive Advanced Life Support training, a team based, evidence based training for rural Emergency Departments.
4. Regionally directed, adequately funded, paramedic staffed EMS is critical in addressing needs of rural communities.
5. The role of PAs certified in Emergency Medicine coupled with telemedicine is an effective and cost effective way to deliver emergency care in rural hospitals or free-standing EDs.
6. All rural hospitals should establish close collaborative linkages with tertiary facilities for referral, consultation, training and outreach.
ACEP and the Society of Emergency Medicine PAs need to lead advocacy efforts for comprehensive reform of rural emergency health care, based on the above points.
February 2, 2015
William RogersOne of the easiest ways to help save our rural hospitals is to encourage states that have refused to expand Medicaid to accept the generous subisdy offered by the Federal taxpayer (100% initially but never less than 90%) and expand the program so that all of the citizens of their state will be covered. The idea that americans who earn less than a thousand dollars a month dont deserve health care is hard to understand in a country that pretends to admire the actions of the good samaritan.