Date of Award

Fall 12-7-2022

Embargo Period

12-22-2022

Document Type

Dissertation - MUSC Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

Department

Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Dunc Williams

Second Advisor

Larry E Leaming

Third Advisor

Larry Troxell

Abstract

The US Census Bureau reports that nearly 60 million Americans live in rural communities. Many rural Americans have been forced out of their communities and driven to urban centers to find work or adequate healthcare (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). A disproportionate amount of these residents have serious health conditions and limited access to the same levels of care found in urban centers. A reinvestment in rural communities that provides some level of healthcare services, including mental health resources, community outreach, and well women/well childcare, is essential to reduce barriers to healthcare. Often, traditional rural hospitals have not been able to sustain themselves, and many rural health systems do not have the capital needed for facility infrastructure maintenance or new healthcare services. Research from The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research in 2022 referencing a study from Brystana Kaufman and team in 2016, suggests the high number of rural hospital closures is associated with financial instability which could be attributed to low profit margins, high staffing costs and loss of market share. This leaves a significant number of Americans living with limited acute care in their communities, which can lead to medical deserts and larger gaps in available care for rural areas (Kaufman, 2016). Developing a new financial tool with an actionable business model both in the type of facility and how it is operated could be a cost effective opportunity to provide more rural Americans healthcare where they live.

Rights

Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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