With federal funding, a remote Wyoming community is bucking closure trends across the rural U.S. and building its own hospital. It's not the only one.

After receiving federal funding, a remote Wyoming community is bucking closure trends throughout the rural U.S. and building its own hospital. It’s not the only one.

  • Evrala@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    6 hours ago

    Rural hospitals aren’t as profitable, so privately held hospitals have been closing so the company can invest money where they make more money per dollar spent.

    • OccamsRazer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      6 hours ago

      That’s usually the answer, but it also begs the question why aren’t they as profitable as they used to be?

      • mysticpickle@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        6 hours ago

        Some might be as profitable/unpredictable as they used to be, but urban/suburban areas are still much more profitable areas for hospitals to operate.

        The reality of rural areas is that by their nature there just aren’t as many people there

        • OccamsRazer@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 hours ago

          Yeah i came up with a few possible explanations:

          1. Corporate strategic decision to cut less profitable hospitals.
          2. Reduced population from people moving to the cities.
          3. Changes in billing or insurance that reduce profitability.

          Or some combination of these.