Wayne HealthCare stands as a testament to rural healthcare resilience after navigating the profound challenges of the pandemic, implementing Epic electronic health records, and successfully transitioning to Critical Access Hospital status in just a few short years. This strategic transformation has positioned the 103-year-old independent hospital for sustainable growth despite the headwinds facing small healthcare facilities nationwide.

CEO Jeff Subler and VP Terri Flood share how their 2025-2027 strategic plan focuses on enhancing and optimizing existing services rather than pursuing unlimited expansion. With five carefully crafted pillars—core services and growth, patient quality and experience, fiscal and operational excellence, community partnerships, and people and culture—the organization has created a roadmap that balances community needs with operational realities.

The Critical Access Hospital designation represents a financial turning point, providing improved Medicare reimbursement for a facility where approximately 60% of patients are Medicare beneficiaries. This enhanced financial foundation enables Wayne HealthCare to maintain essential but traditionally undercompensated services like obstetrics and women's health—increasingly endangered specialties in rural communities across America.

Strategic partnerships have fueled remarkable growth, particularly in orthopedics through collaboration with Orthopedic Associates, while cardiology services have expanded through thoughtful physician recruitment. The leadership team emphasizes workforce development through educational partnerships with regional schools and universities, creating vital pipelines for healthcare professionals in a challenging recruitment environment.

What truly distinguishes Wayne HealthCare is its commitment to employee engagement and innovation. Initiatives like the Growth, Waste and Leakage Challenge have saved millions while fostering cross-departmental collaboration, proving that good ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. Looking forward, the strategic plan emphasizes leadership development and training to ensure organizational sustainability for generations to come.

Join us in advocating for rural healthcare by understanding our strategic vision, sharing Wayne HealthCare's story with your community, and engaging with policymakers about the vital importance of preserving healthcare access close to home.

Unlock the story behind Wayne HealthCare's groundbreaking shift to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) as we sit down with our visionary Jeff Subler, President/CEO & Terri Flood, VP Business Development. It's an inside look at how strategic foresight and meticulous due diligence paved the way for enhanced services and financial health. Jeff paints a picture of the rigorous journey, from CMS's redefinition of a primary road that opened our doors to this opportunity, to the board's crucial approval. He assures a smooth continuation of our daily operations and teases the exciting developments ahead, like the accreditation survey that will seal our new status.

Witness as we dissect the myriad benefits that come with being a Critical Access Hospital. Jeff elaborates on the critical balance between meeting CAH requirements and expanding our healthcare services to better serve our community. We're talking about higher Medicare reimbursements, potential swing bed programs, and a coveted spot in the 340B pharmacy program. Plus, get a glimpse into the future of rural healthcare with strategic plans that include the Orthopedic Center of Excellence and the celebration of a quarter century of our rehabilitation services. Jeff's enthusiasm is infectious, and it's clear that this transformation isn't just a change—it's a charge towards a vibrant future for Wayne HealthCare.