Media Inquiries:
Kentucky River Medical Center
Kimberly Boggs
Hospital Marketing Director
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KENTUCKY RIVER MEDICAL CENTER Achieves Critical Access Hospital Designation, Enhancing Healthcare Access in BREATHITT County
(Jackson, KY)—Jan. 7, 2025—Kentucky River Medical Center (KRMC) in Jackson, KY, announced that it achieved a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“We’re thrilled that Kentucky River Medical Center has earned the CAH designation,” said Susie Robinette Morgan, CEO and CNO of Kentucky River Medical Center. “We are committed to preserving and enhancing healthcare to patients in the region and are excited to continue advancing the health and wellness of our community. Achieving this designation involved meeting rigorous standards, and we are proud of our team’s dedication and hard work to achieve this milestone.”
The CAH program aims to strengthen healthcare in rural communities by making certain residents have access to vital medical services, including the added benefit of swing bed services. Swing bed services provide patients with a place close to home for post-acute care, such as physical therapy or wound care. The hospital will continue to provide local access to 24/7 emergency care, primary care, diagnostic imaging and labs, specialties, and referrals, without patients needing to travel long distances.
This designation also reimburses hospitals for the expenses of caring for sicker patients who require more days in the hospital and incur higher supply and drug costs. Cost-based reimbursement for services for Medicare patients is critical to maintaining essential healthcare in rural areas like Breathitt County.
“We are proud to be in this position of strength as we continue delivering care to the community we are honored to serve,” added Morgan.
About Kentucky River Medical Center
Kentucky River Medical Center (KRMC) is a Critical Access Hospital serving Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe counties. Services include ICU, emergency, inpatient, surgical, infusion, rehabilitation, lab and diagnostic imaging.