The challenges facing rural hospitals are escalating, and legislation to address workforce shortages is hitting roadblocks. An eye-opening article from The Daily Yonder sheds light on this urgent issue.

According to advocates, workforce issues are one of the biggest challenges facing rural health care facilities currently, notes the article, headlined “Workforce Shortages Plague Rural Hospitals, Legislation to Address It Stalls.”

Kevin Stansbury, CEO of Lincoln Health in Hugo, Colorado, told the paper that the workforce challenge is unprecedented.

Nurses, lab techs, radiology techs, and other positions that require technical and professional degrees are in short supply as well, the paper noted.

The article described several pieces of legislation currently being worked on that aim to address the issue, as well as several recent White House initiatives.

Read the full story.

The Daily Yonder is a publication of the Center for Rural Strategies.