Rural Health
News by Topic: Closures of healthcare facilities and services
Jun 22, 2026 - Highlights new data showing increasing drive times to labor and delivery services for rural Arkansans. Discusses labor and delivery department closures in the state and how the population distribution makes offering the service challenging.
Source: Arkansas Advocate
May 20, 2026 - Interview with Andrew M. Southerland, professor of neurology and public health sciences at the University of Virginia. Describes how the UVA telestroke program helps ensure that patients receive timely evaluation and treatment recommendations near home, while also identifying patients who may benefit from transfer to a comprehensive stroke center.
Source: DocWire News
May 11, 2026 - The Care Collaborative, a University of Kansas Health System patient safety organization, has launched a program to support maternity care in rural areas, by offering in-person instruction at emergency rooms across the state. In Kansas only about a third of rural hospitals still deliver babies.
Source: WAFB9
May 8, 2026 - A recent episode of the Iowa Economy Podcast features 3 healthcare and public health experts, who discuss how statewide health challenges are affecting Iowa's economy. They point out that these issues have implications for employers, workforce stability, and long-term economic growth.
Source: Business Record
May 4, 2026 - Several Oklahoma rural hospitals have created or expanded swing bed programs, which allow hospitals to use inpatient beds for post-acute care. The additional revenue stream helps facilities remain viable and avoid closure, and allows patients to receive follow-up care locally.
Source: Oklahoma Watch