La Crosse, Kan.-based Rush County Memorial Hospital has decided to transition to a rural emergency hospital due to ongoing rural healthcare challenges like reimbursement changes, cost increases, governmental change, and a local population decrease.
The 25-bed-hospital's intermediate swing bed unit will close as it will no longer support long-term care services as an REH. Inpatient services like acute care and swing beds will also not be provided, according to a Feb. 9 statement shared on Rush County Memorial Hospital's Facebook page.
The hospital will continue providing its 24/7 emergency room and observation service, along with laboratory services, outpatient nursing care, physical therapy, radiology services, its wellness center, and its Rush County (Kan.) Medical Clinic.
La Crosse-based Locust Grove Village will continue providing nursing home services, according to the statement.
A local town hall meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 to discuss the transition further.