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Rural Medical Gap: Lack of Access to Contemporary Healthcare for Patients and Hospitals in Remote Areas

Outdated technology hinders rural health facilities, with federal funding for infrastructure upgrades falling behind by billions, leading to deteriorating healthcare quality.

Isolated Care: Rural medical facilities and patients are missing out on contemporary medical...
Isolated Care: Rural medical facilities and patients are missing out on contemporary medical services

Rural Medical Gap: Lack of Access to Contemporary Healthcare for Patients and Hospitals in Remote Areas

In the heart of Alabama, Greene County's health system faces challenges that are far from uncommon in rural America. According to KFF Health News' analysis, residents in these 'dead zone' counties tend to live sicker and die younger than people in the rest of the United States.

The Greene County Health System in Eutaw, Alabama, with only three doctors and no intensive care unit or surgical services, is a testament to this struggle. The hospital, which averages a few patients each night, primarily treats those with chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, stroke, and obesity.

Despite the hospital's best efforts, it has faced financial issues and fines for readmitting patients. In 2023, federal inspectors again cited the hospital's failure to maintain records, which could potentially negatively affect patients. A similar issue was highlighted in 2021, when federal inspectors notified the hospital's CEO, Pugh, of an 'immediate jeopardy' violation due to several deficiencies, including failure to provide medical treatment and maintain records.

The political landscape, hundreds of miles away in Washington, may seem distant from Greene County's struggles. However, promises have been made to address these issues. In 2021, President Joe Biden committed billions to broadband expansion, aiming to connect underserved areas like Greene County to reliable, high-capacity internet.

The Alabama Fiber Network announced plans to expand its fiber network in Greene County and surrounding counties by the end of 2022. This effort aims to provide high-speed broadband access, likely through new fiber infrastructure deployment funded by programs such as BEAD. Hospitals, like modern healthcare operations, need at least a gigabit of speed, according to Aaron Miri, a chief digital and information officer.

However, Greene County's internet connection currently falls far short of this requirement. With speeds of nearly 90 megabits per second, it is less than 10% of what experts say is sufficient for modern health care systems, which rely on electronic health records, high-tech wireless equipment, and telehealth access.

The lack of fast, reliable internet is not the only challenge Greene County faces. Nearly 60% of these counties have no hospital, and hospitals closed in nine of the counties in the past two decades, according to data collected by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

For patients like Walker, this means seeking specialty care in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham due to the hospital's limitations. Despite these challenges, Walker praised the staff at Greene County Hospital, saying they care. During a recent visit, Nurse Williams checked Walker's heart rate and adjusted his sheets, and even had to restart the IV magnesium flow for him.

Greene County is one of more than 200 counties with poor access to reliable internet, primary care providers, and behavioral health specialists, according to a KFF Health News analysis. As the political landscape evolves, it remains to be seen how these promises will translate into tangible improvements for rural communities like Greene County.

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