Commonwealth Health Corporation Inc

DLT GRANTS - SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER - MEDICAL

DLT GRANTS - SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER - MEDICAL

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ADDRESS: 1501 S. DIXIE STREET, HORSE CAVE, KY 42749 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: ALAN ALEXANDER CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: VOICE (270) 786-2191 FAX (270) 786-1557 EMAIL ADDRESS: ALEXA@MCHEALTH.NET WEBSITE ADDRESS: MEDCENTERHEALTH.ORG/LOCATION/THE-MEDICAL-CENTER-AT-CAVERNA/ FEDERAL FUNDS REQUESTED: $250,000 THE MED CENTER AT CAVERNA SURGERY DEPARTMENT PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE SURGICAL SERVICE CAPABILITIES AT THE HOSPITAL AND INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE IN HORSE CAVE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - THE MEDICAL CENTER AT RUSSELLVILLE REQUESTS FUNDING THROUGH THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HRSA-26-105) TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE, LOCAL HOSPITALIZATION, AND ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF A SEVEN-COUNTY RURAL SERVICE AREA IN SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN TENNESSEE. THE MEDICAL CENTER AT RUSSELLVILLE IS AN ELIGIBLE RURAL ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL WITH 50 OR FEWER STAFFED ACUTE CARE INPATIENT BEDS AND A MEDICARE WAGE INDEX BELOW 0.90. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY, INPATIENT, SWING BED, LABORATORY, DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, REHABILITATION, WOUND CARE, INFUSION, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES. MORE THAN 10,500 PATIENTS RECEIVE EMERGENCY CARE ANNUALLY, RESULTING IN MORE THAN 350 ACUTE INPATIENT ADMISSIONS IN ADDITION TO POST-ACUTE SWING BED ADMISSIONS. THE HOSPITAL OPERATES UNDER STRUCTURAL PAYMENT DISADVANTAGES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT ITS ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. IT CURRENTLY RELIES ON THREE CONTRACTED HOSPITAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE. NATIONAL PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES, RURAL WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS, AND MARKET COMPENSATION PRESSURES HAVE MADE RECRUITMENT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, AND TWO OF THE CURRENT PHYSICIANS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO MAINTAINING LOCAL INPATIENT SERVICES. CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE IS THE CLINICAL FOUNDATION UPON WHICH LOCAL HOSPITALIZATION AND ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES DEPEND. HOSPITAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS PROVIDE INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, PHYSICIAN MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CONSULTATION, SPECIALTY COORDINATION, DISCHARGE PLANNING, AND COLLABORATION WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAMS. THEIR SERVICES SUSTAIN EMERGENCY, INPATIENT, LABORATORY, IMAGING, PHARMACY, REHABILITATION, WOUND CARE, INFUSION, TELEHEALTH-SUPPORTED SPECIALTY CONSULTATION, AND SWING BED SERVICES. WITHOUT CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE, PATIENTS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION WOULD INCREASINGLY REQUIRE TRANSFER TO DISTANT FACILITIES, REDUCING TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE WHILE INCREASING TRANSPORTATION BURDENS, HEALTHCARE COSTS, AND THE RISK OF SERVICE EROSION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. HRSA FUNDING WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACTUAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE. THE REQUESTED AWARD WILL HELP PRESERVE LOCAL HOSPITALIZATION, REDUCE AVOIDABLE TRANSFERS, STRENGTHEN COORDINATION BETWEEN EMERGENCY AND INPATIENT CARE, AND SUSTAIN ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL'S RURAL SERVICE AREA. THE MEDICAL CENTER AT RUSSELLVILLE CONTINUES TO INVEST IN TELEHEALTH SPECIALTY CONSULTATION SERVICES AND HAS ACHIEVED CHEST PAIN CENTER ACCREDITATION AND ACUTE STROKE READY HOSPITAL DESIGNATION WHILE PURSUING TRAUMA, PEDIATRIC READINESS, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE) CERTIFICATIONS. SUPPORT THROUGH HRSA-26-105 WILL HELP MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PRESERVE CONTINUOUS INPATIENT PHYSICIAN COVERAGE, AND STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY RURAL HEALTHCARE.