Rural Hospitals Are Dying. This One Saved Itself—And Its Community

Maryland's health care system is based on three pillars – all-payer rate setting, a global budget, and total cost of care – that, together, have shown positive results both for the patients and for the state's hospitals. Although evidence of success with regard to health care costs is limited, the model of incentiving investment in community health and preventive care has shown success in reducing readmission rates for hospitals across the state.

Switzerland is home to the world's lowest avoidable mortality rate and residents of the country live longer lives and are healthier than those who live in the United States. Health policy experts credit the Swiss health care system for playing a significant role. Despite the high cost and the penalty for not carrying insurance, the system is praised as guarateeing access to quality health-care and "unlike the U.S., people rarely go bankrupt from medical bills."

Health care in the Netherlands relies heavily on the collaboration, cooperation, and shared responsibility between private markets and government regulations to achieve affordable, consistent, and quality care for patients. Although the system is not without its limitations, this process has helped the country avoid preventable deaths while also guaranting nearly all residents insurance.

Enrolling local agents allows global partners to connect underserved and remote communities to healthcare. A partnership between Rwanda’s Health Ministry and the Boston-based nonprofit, Partners in Health, trains community-based health workers to communicate and connect people on the ground to health services across the country. Rwanda has also implemented reforms and services such as government-subsided healthcare, which has helped improve the life expectancy of its citizens.

Hospitals in New York improve healthcare quality and reduce medical costs by staying in frequent contact with patients requiring frequent or long-term care. Montefiore's Accountable Care Organization pulls in care providers from across the medical and social spectrum to improve patient health while curbing expenses.

Health insurance sign-ups made available to all inmates at the San Francisco county jail, partnered with guidance from a clinic once they are on the outside, allows them to receive better care upon release, and may help prevent a return to crime and substance abuse.

A formerly closed hospital reopened as a pop-up health care facility in Los Angeles County to help provide health services for a predominantly Latino community during the coronavirus pandemic. Although it was only open for just over a month and operating costs were high, the facility was a unique opportunity for the healthcare providers involved to "create their own healthcare system and practice medicine unconstrained by medical corporations and insurance companies."

Public private partnerships are helping hospitals in Nigeria provide more efficient care, especially as it relates to maternal health. In Lagos State, the model – which partners a private healthcare management firm with the hospital – has helped better equip facilities so more laboratory tests can be conducted in one place. Although this solution doesn't necessarily solve all problems faced by those seeking care, it has helped to provide a more sustainable model of healthcare in many cases.

Rural hospitals often face a host of problems, especially when it comes to financial troubles; however, a small hospital in Wisconsin has been able to remain open by embracing a merger with a larger health care facility. This has lead to a handful of positive outcomes such as "significantly improved operating margins, higher quality and outcomes and better patient satisfaction"

In Karachi, Pakistan’s Jinnah hospital, a private-public partnership between the government and the business sector have brought in over $35 million in donations. Those donations have led to new equipment, buildings, and systems infrastructure to make sure the patients – nearly 5,000 per day – are receiving modern medical care. While the partnership is underscored by the risk of one party backing out, both sides have clear roles and responsibilities to make sure the regions residents receive the care they need.