Smaller hospitals should take advantage of programs such as the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

The government is currently working out plans to expand the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which will enable participation by critical access hospitals. This particular program also will allow use of the loans to recruit hospital physicians to rural healthcare facilities.

Other initiatives that smaller hospitals could benefit from include the Community Facilities Program, which offers loans for community facilities projects, as well as the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program, one that helps spur the growth of tele-health.

“Economically, times are rough throughout the healthcare system, but rural hospitals are suffering the most,” said James E. McLean, MD, President of Hospital TeamCare West, a leading provider of outsourced physician services. “Right now smaller hospitals need to do whatever it takes to stay afloat.

“Government-funded programs are available and can benefit rural healthcare facilities greatly in these difficult times that we, in healthcare, all are experiencing.”

To learn more about government-funded programs that are available for America’s rural hospitals, visit the United States Department of Agriculture’s homepage at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov, and click on the tab titled “Programs and Opportunities.”

Source: PRWEB