An area hospital is eager to be part of a new initiative to transform rural healthcare in the state.

 

It was just announced Thursday  that Pennsylvania is getting a $25 million federal grant to  help struggling rural hospitals.

  

J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon wants to be among five or six pilot hospitals chosen for the  Rural Health Transformation Initiative. It’s designed to help rural hospitals become financially stable and to improve the health of their residents.

 

Under the plan, hospitals would be reimbursed a fixed annual amount for inpatient and outpatient services, with adjustments based on patient outcomes. 

 

“This program really introduces a new way of thinking  and a new a new model financially, which then allows the small rural hospitals to ultimately think about how do they need to deliver the care in their  communities,” said J.C. Blair Chief Operating Officer Adam Dimm.

 

He added the hospital’s CEO, who’s also the CEO of Fulton County Medical Center actually closely with the state health secretary to develop the rural healthcare initiative.