HMC teaming up with hospitals in northwest Kansas

By PHYLLIS J. ZORN

Hays Daily News

Providing assistance to smaller hospitals in the region in order to keep them strong is the main goal of more than a decade's efforts by Hays Medical Center in developing the Northwest Kansas Health Alliance.

The alliance now has 22 hospitals, making it the largest alliance in the nation.

The hospitals in the alliance include Cheyenne County Hospital, St. Francis; Citizens Medical Center, Colby; Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington ; Edwards County Hospital, Kinsley; Gove County Medical Center, Quinter; Graham County Hospital, Hill City; Grisell Memorial Hospital, Ransom; Harlan County Health System, Alma, Neb.; Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, Greensburg; Lane County Hospital, Dighton; Logan County Hospital, Oakley; Minneola District Hospital, Minneola; Norton County Hospital, Norton; Phillips County Hospital, Phillipsburg; Rawlins County Health Center, Atwood; Rooks County Health Center, Plainville; Rush County Memorial Hospital, La Crosse; Russell Regional Hospital, Russell; Scott County Hospital, Scott City; Sheridan County Health Complex, Hoxie; Smith County Hospital, Smith Center; and Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney.

The continued growth of the alliance is the result of ongoing efforts by HMC. The goal is to bridge the gaps that otherwise would plague smaller area hospitals where employees often have responsibilities that overlap several areas.

Jodi Schmidt, HMC chief development officer, said the issues facing smaller community hospitals are issues of concern to everyone in the region.

“We realized years ago that we depend on them, too. What's in it for us is those people live and work in those communities and get medical care there. When they need medical care that can't be provided there, they come here to Hays Medical Center,” Schmidt said.

What's in it for the smaller hospitals is better reimbursement. They can be qualified as critical access hospitals, which provides them the opportunity to get cost-based Medicare reimbursement.

Educational programs geared toward helping the member hospitals address their needs are usually presented in Hays. Representatives of the member hospitals drive here to attend them. Sometimes a video link is arranged so member hospitals can take part without having to drive.

HMC finds grants to pay for programs offered for the network.

“I think the emphasis in the last year has been taking what we've learned to a national level,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt has been part of a national program called Rural Voices, operated by the Office of Rural Health Policy. The only other Kansan selected to be part of Rural Voices was Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls.

“Sometimes that means working for legislation and other times, working to get Medicare to interpret legislation in the way we believe it was intended,” Schmidt said.

“Sometimes with Medicare, just the regulation is difficult to deal with, but for the rural hospitals, it can be crippling,” Schmidt added.

Schmidt stressed that keeping hospitals open isn't only about health care. It's also an economic development issue, especially considering the hospital is often a community's largest employer.

Reporter Phyllis Zorn can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 137, or by e-mail at phylz@dailynews.net.