Should physicians who work at or do business with rural hospitals be worried?

Author(s):

Todd Shryock

Key Takeaways

Rural hospitals are challenged by declining reimbursements, rising costs, and workforce shortages, impacting their sustainability.
The shrinking patient base further exacerbates financial and operational difficulties for rural healthcare facilities.
Physicians associated with rural hospitals face uncertainty regarding their future due to these ongoing challenges.
Strategic planning and adaptation are crucial for the continued operation and service delivery of rural hospitals by 2025.

Rural hospitals have really struggled to stay open in recent years - a trend that looks to continue in 2025. Do physicians affiliated with rural hospitals need to worry about their future?

Rural hospitals have really struggled in recent years. Declining reimbursement and increasing costs - along with a shrinking patient base and workforce shortage - have all contributed to the challenges of rural hospitals. Pete Reilly of HUB International discusses whether physicians who work at or do business with rural hospitals need to worry about their future in 2025.