Rural Done Right

Ensuring Rural Health Care Endures

Caring for our families, friends and neighbors is a profound privilege,

and it is our responsibility to get it right, now and for the future.

By Michelle LeBeau

President, University of Vermont Health Network -

Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital

With  proud histories of serving the North Country, Alice Hyde Medical Center (AHMC) and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) remain  committed to two  priorities: provid-ing exceptional care to our friends, families and neighbors today, and laying the groundwork for our future by supporting the growth and development of our people as they lead the transformation of our services and operations. Yet as pressures from rising supply and labor costs,  persistent workforce shortages  and shrinking reim-bursement  mount, honoring these commitments  is  increasingly challenging and more urgent than ever before. 

Across the country, rural health care is at a tipping point, balanc-ing today’s needs with long term sustainability. The North Country is not immune to this crisis, with hospitals like ours increasingly forced to make difficult decisions to ensure quality patient care en-dures both now and in the future.

Recent changes to federal health care policies, after the  passage of H.R. 1 (aka the Big Beautiful Bill), are working against rural health facilities already  operating  on razor-thin margins. These changes are bringing stronger headwinds  for  hospitals like ours, and we’re already feeling the impact. In our clinics and Emergency Departments,  we’re  seeing more patients with-out health insurance due to the legislative changes to Medicaid eligibility requirements and increased cost of healthcare insurance.  We expect to see a corresponding increase in unpaid debt that we must absorb. Most  concerning  are changes to how government programs including Medicare and Medicaid, reimburse hospitals for the care we provide.  With almost two-thirds of AHMC and CVPH patients covered by some kind of government insurance, any change to these reimbursements has a significant impact on our financial picture.

In this new economic landscape, it becomes increasingly difficult for any single entity to meet all the needs of the people it serves. Maintaining our roles as essential health care providers will require even more collaboration, innovation and diligence, along with the understanding that change is the one constant in our world  and must be embraced thoughtfully.   

We’ve  seen how collaboration with community partners, each offering their specific services and  expertise, can  ben-efit  our patients. In Malone,  Hudson  Headwaters Health Network (HHHN) has opened Malone Family Health, an impressive new facility  located  directly on  our  AHMC cam-pus. It’s part of a shared initiative between HHHN and AHMC to expand access to primary care in Franklin County. Togeth-er,  we’re  making strides in improving essential access to care in our community, an achievement that likely would have been dif-ficult for either entity to accomplish alone.  

In much the same manner,  we’ve  had success in addressing the workforce shortage through partnerships with regional education-al institutions and the support of the community. In collaboration with SUNY’s Empire State College and UVM Health Network –  Center for  Workforce Development,  registered nurses from our facilities with bachelor’s degrees are returning to school to earn their master’s degrees in nursing. In turn, they’ve committed to teaching at local nursing schools to prepare the next generation of caregivers.  Numerous other career development opportunities are supported by generous philanthropic donations. 

The realities of our time challenge us to find new and progressive ways to care for our patients. With thoughtful transformation, we can ensure that we remain viable, responsive, and ready to meet the needs of the people we serve — today and for generations to come.