Spectrum Health Pennock officials are announcing they have received formal acceptance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), also known as the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.

 

The Critical Access Hospital status is for small hospitals, such as Pennock,  that are essential to rural geographic areas like Barry County. Under the designation, Spectrum Health Pennock is licensed for 25 inpatient beds. The hospital’s average inpatient census was 18.4 patients per day during the application process.

 

The model of 25 inpatient beds was tested for two months prior to application for the designation. Hospital officials noted that working under the CAH model allowed Pennock to realize greater efficiencies to provide a consistently high level of care to patients.

 

The designation directly aligns with the mission of Spectrum Health Pennock; to improve health, inspire hope and save lives in the communities it serves and promotes improved efficiencies for better and safer patient care. It also allows for a higher reimbursement rate from Medicare, further closing the gap between the cost of services rendered and the reimbursement provided.