Caldwell Memorial Hospital Inc

RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC, AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED, FOR-PROFIT RURAL HOSPITAL LOCATED IN COLUMBIA, LOUISIANA (CCN 190190), REQUESTS DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HRSA-26-105) TO MAINTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND PRESERVE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE RURAL POPULATION OF CALDWELL PARISH AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IS THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN CALDWELL PARISH OPERATING AN INPATIENT REHABILITATION FACILITY (IRF) UNIT, ITS PRIMARY ACUTE CARE SERVICE LINE, AND ITS CLOSURE WOULD ELIMINATE THE PARISH'S ONLY SOURCE OF INPATIENT REHABILITATIVE CARE. AS A SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL OPERATING NO MORE THAN 50 ACUTE CARE INPATIENT BEDS WITH A MEDICARE WAGE INDEX VALUE BELOW 0.90, CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FACES A STRUCTURAL PAYMENT DISADVANTAGE IN WHICH LABOR AND OPERATING COSTS REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN INPATIENT ACUTE CARE, INPATIENT REHABILITATION UNIT CARE, AND PRIMARY CARE STAFFING CONSISTENTLY OUTPACE WAGE-INDEX-ADJUSTED REIMBURSEMENT, AND LARGE PAYER-AFFILIATED HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE INCREASINGLY ABLE TO RECRUIT STAFF AWAY WITH SALARIES THE HOSPITAL CANNOT MATCH UNASSISTED. AS AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY WITH NO PARENT HEALTH SYSTEM TO DRAW ON FOR SUPPORT, AND WITH A WORKFORCE THAT IS PREDOMINANTLY LOCAL TO CALDWELL PARISH AND INCLUDES MANY LONG-TENURED EMPLOYEES (27 PERCENT WITH MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND 17 PERCENT WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS), CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WILL USE THIS AWARD TO FUND A ONE-TIME, HOSPITAL-WIDE EMPLOYEE RETENTION BONUS FOR ALL BENEFITS-ELIGIBLE, NON-EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES ACROSS ITS MAIN CAMPUS AND ITS OUTPATIENTS SITES IN COLUMBIA, WISNER, AND CHATHAM, LOUISIANA. THE AWARD EXCLUDES THE HOSPITAL'S THREE C-SUITE EXECUTIVES (THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND TWO CO-PRESIDENTS) AND WILL NOT BE USED TO COMPENSATE THE GOVERNING BOARD OR ANY OTHER GOVERNANCE-LEVEL POSITION, DIRECTING THE FULL AWARD TO FRONTLINE AND SUPPORT STAFF WHOSE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT SUSTAINS THE HOSPITAL'S ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS APPROACH DIRECTLY ADVANCES THE PROGRAM'S GOAL OF MAINTAINING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND PREVENTING AVOIDABLE CLOSURE, ENSURING CONTINUED ACCESS TO CARE FOR THIS MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED RURAL AREA. NO FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES WILL NOT EXCEED 10 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AWARD, CONSISTENT WITH PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

RURAL HEALTH CLINIC VACCINE CONFIDENCE PROGRAM