Winston County Medical Foundation

RURAL HOSPITAL PROVIDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - WINSTON MEDICAL CENTER IS A RURAL PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM (PPS) HOSPITAL SERVING WINSTON COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY, INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT, DIAGNOSTIC, REHABILITATION, AND ANCILLARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO A GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED RURAL POPULATION WITH LIMITED HEALTHCARE ALTERNATIVES. LIKE MANY RURAL HOSPITALS ACROSS THE NATION, WINSTON MEDICAL CENTER FACES ONGOING WORKFORCE CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE STABILITY OF ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES. CURRENT NURSING VACANCY RATES ARE APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT, WHILE ANCILLARY CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS ALSO EXPERIENCE APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT VACANCY RATES. THESE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES CREATE OPERATIONAL STRAIN, INCREASE WORKLOAD DEMANDS ON EXISTING STAFF, AND CHALLENGE THE HOSPITAL'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT ACCESS TO CARE. GRANT FUNDING WILL SUPPORT WORKFORCE STABILIZATION ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON NURSING RETENTION, ANCILLARY CLINICAL STAFF RETENTION, AND TEMPORARY STAFFING SUPPORT NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SERVICE CONTINUITY. FUNDS WILL BE USED TO IMPLEMENT RETENTION INCENTIVES, WORKFORCE SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AND STAFFING STABILIZATION MEASURES DESIGNED TO REDUCE TURNOVER AND PRESERVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES. PROJECT OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED WORKFORCE STABILITY, REDUCED VACANCY-RELATED DISRUPTIONS, STRENGTHENED RETENTION OF CLINICAL PERSONNEL, AND CONTINUED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR RURAL RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT WINSTON COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING SERVICE AREA.