How many rural hospitals are in Washington state?

Washington Rural Healthcare Facilities 126 Rural Health Clinics. 75 Federally Qualified Health Center sites located outside of Urbanized Areas. 7 short term hospitals located outside of Urbanized Areas.

What is a small rural hospital?

Eligible small rural hospital is defined as a non-federal, short-term general acute care hospital that is located in a rural area and has 49 available beds or less, as reported on the hospital’s most recently filed Medicare Cost Report.

What defines a rural hospital?

Rural hospitals maintaining no more than 25 acute care beds. CAHs must be located more than 35 miles, or 15 miles by mountainous terrain or secondary roads, from the nearest hospital – unless designated by a state as a Necessary Provider prior to 2006.

Why are rural hospitals closing?

Low patient volume and heavy reliance on government payers are among the challenges rural healthcare organizations have faced for years. Newer challenges, such as the financial pressures tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, also threaten rural hospitals’ ability to maintain access to healthcare services.

How much of Washington state is rural?

Rural communities comprise 19.3 percent of Washington State’s population. This is a rather small percentage compared to Washington’s urban population of 80.7 percent, but according to the National Rural Health Association, health care in rural communities presents challenges unlike those in urban areas.

Why is the health service not good in rural areas?

People in rural areas generally have less access to healthcare than their urban counterparts. Fewer medical practitioners, mental health programs, and healthcare facilities in these areas often mean less preventative care and longer response times in emergencies.

How big are rural hospitals?

Rural hospitals are much smaller—less than one-third the size of urban hospitals in average bed size (76 beds to 252 beds per hospital). Rural hospitals have about one-fourth the total number (or 2.6 million) of Medicare discharges.

What are the 4 types of hospitals?

Types of Hospitals in the United States

  • Community Hospitals (Nonfederal Acute Care)
  • Federal Government Hospitals.
  • Nonfederal Psychiatric Care.
  • Nonfederal Long-term Care.

How many hospitals have closed in the last 10 years?

Nearly one in five Americans live in rural areas and depend on their local hospital for care. Over the past 10 years, 130 of those hospitals have closed.

Why are hospitals closing?

From reimbursement landscape challenges to dwindling patient volumes, many factors lead hospitals to shut down. In recent months, financial damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has put many hospitals in a fragile financial position and forced a few to close.

What are the rural areas in Washington?

12 Small Towns In Rural Washington That Are Downright Delightful

  • Chelan. Green Smoothies Rock! / Flickr.
  • Winthrop. karen / Flickr.
  • Snohomish. Jasperdo / Flickr.
  • Leavenworth. Amy Meredith / Flickr.
  • Palouse. J.
  • Goldendale. Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr.
  • Lynden. Jasperdo / Flickr.
  • Blaine. TravelingOtter / Flickr.