Rural hospitals struggle to attract buyers

Struggling rural hospitals are having a difficult time finding investors willing to spend a significant amount, WBEZ Chicago, an NPR affiliate reported Aug. 16. 

Many of these hospitals can't find any interested investors, regardless of what they're willing to pay. 

Michael Topchik, director of the Chartis Center for Rural Health, a healthcare consulting firm for rural hospitals,  told the publication that most large health systems have already acquired the rural hospitals with the least amount of issues, leaving the hospitals that are left desperate for any offer. 

"When you're on the ropes or even got your head under water, it's really difficult to negotiate with any terms of strength," Mr. Topchick told WBEZ. "So you, oftentimes, are choosing whoever is willing to choose you."

Additionally, the amount of effort and funding necessary to turn these hospitals around isn't realistic, according to Beau Braden, DO, leader of Braden Health.

"A lot of people aren't willing to put in the time, effort, energy, and work for a small hospital with less than 25 beds,"  Dr. Braden told WBEZ. "But it needs just as much time, energy, and effort as a hospital with 300 beds. I just see there's a huge need in rural hospitals, and not a lot of people who can focus their time doing it."

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