The closures highlight the heightened financial challenges that rural hospitals face amid persisting workforce shortages, rising costs and leveling reimbursement. In addition, only 45% of rural hospitals now offer labor and delivery services, and in 10 states, less than 33% do, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform.
Below are the 36 rural hospitals that closed since 2020, beginning with the most recent.
Editor’s note: Facilities with an asterisk (*) signify converted closures (facilities that no longer provide inpatient services, but continue to provide some services, such as primary care, skilled nursing care or long-term care).
– Jellico (Tenn.) Regional Hospital
– St. Mark’s Medical Center (La Grange, Texas)
– Herington (Kan.) Hospital
– Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital (Lakeview, Mich.)
– Indiana University Health Blackford Hospital (Hartford City, Ind.)*
– Martin General Hospital (Williamston, N.C.)
– Patients Choice Medical Center of Smith County (Raleigh, Miss.)
– St. Margaret’s Health-Spring Valley (Ill.)
– UPMC Lock Haven (Pa.)*
– St. Margaret’s Health-Peru (Ill.) (OSF Healthcare expected to reopen the hospital this spring)
– Ascension St. Vincent Dunn (Bedford, Ind.)
– Blessing Health Keokuk (Iowa)
– Audrain Community Hospital (Mexico, Mo.)
– Callaway Community Hospital (Fulton, Mo.)
– Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit (Acoma, N.M.)*
– Galesburg (Ill.) Cottage Hospital*
– MercyOne Oakland Medical Center (Oakland, Neb.)*
– Community HealthCare System-St. Marys (Kan.)*
– Perry Community Hospital (Linden, Tenn.)
– Northridge Medical Center (Commerce, Ga.)*
– Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center (Cuthbert, Ga.)
– Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center (Lake City, Fla.)
– Cumberland River Hospital (Celina, Tenn.)
– Bluefield (W.Va.) Regional Medical Center*
– Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital (Leavenworth, Kan.)*
– Shands Live Oak (Fla.) Regional Medical Center*
– Shands Starke (Fla.) Regional Medical Center*
– Williamson (W.V.a) Memorial Hospital*
– Decatur County General Hospital (Parsons, Tenn.)
– Sumner Community Hospital (Wellington, Kan.)
– Edward W. McCready Memorial Hospital (Crisfield, Md.)*
– Mayo Clinic Health System-Springfield (Minn.)*
– Central Hospital of Bowie (Texas)*
– UPMC Susquehanna Sunbury (Pa.)*
– Mountain View Regional Hospital (Norton, Va.)*
– Pinnacle Regional Hospital (Boonville, Mo.)
