Why Rural Hospitals are Struggling

Rural hospitals are the lifeblood of a community. But over the years, everything from natural disasters to the skyrocketing cost of healthcare, and the ripple effects of the pandemic, have put the survivability of these remote hospitals that serve large distances at risk. Some are finding the costs are simply too great to bear and shut down completely. Some have gone bankrupt while others look to merge with larger hospital systems to stay financially afloat. Aside from critical care and life-saving services, many people are put at risk over the long term by putting off or missing routine check-ups and preventative care. For the communities themselves, many find that their hospitals are the largest employers with good wages. So when a hospital shuts down, the impact can be felt in towns to even larger cities like Sacramento. Sacramento Business Journal reporter Emily Hamman joined Insight to give a deep dive into the state of California's rural hospitals. The report is in partnership with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.