Pratt Regional Medical Center Corporation

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE (PLANNING)

RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - PRATT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (PRMC) IS A 35-BED MEDICARE-DESIGNATED SOLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN PRATT, KANSAS, SERVING 71,644 RESIDENTS ACROSS ELEVEN COUNTIES OF RURAL SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS, A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA. PRMC IS THE REGIONAL HUB FOR SURGICAL, OBSTETRIC, EMERGENCY, AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, OPERATING THE REGION'S ONLY ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY PROGRAM AND ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING OBSTETRIC PROGRAMS WEST OF WICHITA. PRMC WILL USE $148,000 IN RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING TO MAINTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF REGISTERED NURSES AND SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS — DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRAM'S PURPOSE: MAINTAINING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND PREVENT AVOIDABLE RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSURES. PRMC CARRIES A SUBSTANTIAL OUTSTANDING RECRUITMENT NEED: OPEN REGISTERED NURSE AND SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST POSITIONS CURRENTLY COVERED BY TEMPORARY CONTRACT LABOR AT PREMIUM COST, IN A REGIONAL LABOR MARKET WHERE SURROUNDING HOSPITALS OFFER STRONGER RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES. GRANT FUNDS WILL MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE PROVIDER WORKFORCE BY CLOSING THAT COMPETITIVE GAP THROUGH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SUPPORT UNDER THE HOSPITAL'S ESTABLISHED PRACTICES, TOGETHER WITH RECRUITMENT OUTREACH IN THE MARKETS WHERE PRMC COMPETES FOR CLINICAL STAFF. A RESTORED PERMANENT PROVIDER WORKFORCE SUSTAINS THE NURSING AND SURGICAL SUPPORT STAFF ON WHICH INPATIENT, EMERGENCY, SURGICAL, AND OBSTETRIC SERVICES DEPEND. IT STRENGTHENS THE LOCAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IN A DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA AND RELIEVES A STRUCTURAL COST BURDEN ON A HOSPITAL OPERATING UNDER SUSTAINED FINANCIAL PRESSURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT HELPS PREVENT THE AVOIDABLE CLOSURE OF THE SOLE REGIONAL HUB ITS ELEVEN COUNTIES DEPEND ON. THESE FUNDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO PRMC AND THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, AND THE HOSPITAL IS GRATEFUL FOR THE PROGRAM'S INVESTMENT IN RURAL HEALTH CARE.