"We view this really as what we could call a canary in the coal mine scenario," Lauren LaPine-Ray, vice president of Policy and Rural Health and executive director of the Center of Rural Excellence for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), said. LaPine-Ray described the situation faced by rural hospitals as a "perfect storm." According to the MHA, rural hospitals are facing declining patient volumes, rising healthcare costs, workforce shortages and reimbursement challenges that make it increasingly difficult to maintain services. Sturgis Hospital’s emergency department volume declined by 13% over the last two years, all while hospitals continue to face increasing costs for staffing, technology, pharmaceuticals and patient care, LaPine-Ray said. Local: Family demands answers after alleged hit-and-run death of Benton Harbor man “We do think this is a much br…

Healthcare providers in rural communities say the impact extends beyond the hospital itself. Jade Klingler, vice president and nurse practitioner at Revolution Health, says healthcare organizations are already discussing how to address gaps in care created by the closure. Without a local hospital, patients may have to travel for services such as imaging, laboratory work and specialty care.