Local residents were blindsided by Pinnacle Regional’s abrupt closure, Boonville Mayor Ned Beach told KMBC. The town is now without a hospital for the first time in more than 100 years, and Boonville residents must drive 30 minutes to the nearest hospital.
Pinnacle Regional is one of 126 rural hospitals in the U.S. that have closed since 2010, according to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Since 2014, seven rural hospitals in Missouri have shut down, according to the Sheps Center.
Mr. Beach told KMBC the town lost its sense of security when Pinnacle Regional closed. The hospital shut down about a month after the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services inspected the facility and cited it for sterile processing procedures. Hospital officials initially said they were working with the state to rectify the situation, but they ultimately decided to close the facility instead of making the repairs.
More articles on healthcare finance:
Texas medical group files for bankruptcy
California lawmakers seek to stop hospital closure amid coronavirus spread
Feds launch investigation into NYU Langone’s Medicare payments
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
