Publication Date: Feb 2007
Author(s): Gale J, Coburn AF, Freeman V, Gregg W, Slifkin RT
Research Center(s): Maine
Project: Measuring Community Impact and Benefit of Critical Access Hospitals
Topic(s): Community Benefit
Notes: Policy Brief #2
This publication presents the findings of a project to understand the community involvement and impact of CAHs and the Flex Program. An associated briefing paper presents these results in greater detail.
For state-level CAH community impact data, browse State-Level Financial, Quality, & Community Data.
Key Findings:
- CAHs are expanding services that positively impact their communities.
- Strategies to meet community need include: 1) Growth/expansion strategies for services that contribute to CAH’s longterm viability, and 2) services that address specific unmet community needs and are subsidized by the hospital.
- CAHs are not consistently reporting on the ways in which they benefit and impact their communities.
- More formal performance measures capturing CAH community impact are needed.
