Focusing on those services does mean losing vital inpatient services in rural communities, but keeping a source of care open in a community can be critical \u2013 especially with so many\u00a0rural hospitals closing or facing a risk of closure<\/a>.<\/p>\n Texas has seen\u00a014 rural hospital closures in the past decade<\/a>. More than half of the state\u2019s 154 remaining rural hospitals are at risk of closure.<\/p>\n The loss of care, including inpatient care, means patients may have to leave their communities to seek those services. Merwin said this can make transportation an even bigger hurdle.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you think of the size of Texas and the mileage between different communities, that\u2019s a particularly unique feature of Texas that we\u2019ll have to watch in looking at how these programs affect access and quality of care,\u201d Merwin said.<\/p>\n In addition, the program depends on rural hospitals having a relationship with larger facilities that are able to provide inpatient or specialized care \u2013 this can increase the strain placed on hospitals in non-rural communities.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether or not these more urban hospitals are going to be able to absorb these patients is a really significant question,\u201d Daly said. \u201cWhat kind of impact that might have on these hospitals that are more urban. Do they have the staffing for it? Do they have the beds for it? I think that\u2019s a big unknown right now.\u201d<\/p>\n The researchers said there are a lot of questions they\u2019re interested in exploring further. Merwin said there are a lot of opportunities to examine the issues\u00a0facing rural communities<\/a>\u00a0and the health care industry as a whole.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been in discussions about designing a study that would include interviewing some of the leaders and providers in the rural hospitals in Texas,\u201d Merwin said.<\/p>\n She said the research could help explain how rural health leaders determined whether or not they converted to the new program or not.<\/p>\n Despite the lack of data and analysis, Merwin said rural health care leaders are focused on making decisions that are in the best interests of the communities they serve.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we don\u2019t know a lot about outcomes at this point, they\u2019re an attempt at a solution \u2026to contribute to improving rural health care,\u201d Merwin said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful when there are opportunities to consider different ways to improve rural health care.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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