Chris Gallagher, M.D., founder and chief strategy officer of Access TeleCare, has published a new article: “It Doesn’t All Have to Be Doom and Gloom for Rural Hospitals – A Blueprint for Improving Cost Structures.”
In the piece published in MedCity News, Dr. Gallagher addresses the reality rural hospitals face: more than 146 closures since 2005, over 100 labor and delivery units shuttered since 2020, and hundreds more facilities at financial risk.
Drawing on his early experience as a rural cardiologist, he outlines a pragmatic path forward. The piece challenges executives to take a hard look at transfer rates, specialty gaps, and revenue leakage — then deploy practical, technology-enabled solutions such as acute specialty telemedicine, AI-supported urgent care models, and AI documentation tools.
The central message is clear: rural hospitals are under pressure, but they are not without options.
If you lead or support a rural facility, this is a timely read.
