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The National Rural Health Resource Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and improving health care in rural communities.

As the nation’s leading technical assistance and knowledge center in rural health, The Center focuses on five core areas:

  • Transition to Value and Population Health
  • Collaboration and Partnership
  • Performance Improvement
  • Health Information Technology
  • Workforce 

Apr 25, 2017

Neshoba County General Hospital-Nursing Home, a small, rural hospital in Philadelphia, Mississippi, shares their success story as a participant in the Magnolia-Evergreen ACO. In its first year, 2016, the ACO has performed with a projected savings of $10.9M, resulting in a reduction in cost of 8.4% or $900 per Medicare Beneficiary. The ACO has decreased ED visits by 13.2%, Inpatient Cost by 17.7%, and SNF cost by 22.6%, while at the same time improved ACO combined Net Revenue of $30 million. The Neshoba hospital’s quality outcomes and patient satisfaction also improved. McCall cited board education and physician education and support as being key ACO success factors, as well as gaining access to comprehensive Medicare patient information. Dr. Cannon remarked that even with additional physician responsibilities for value payments, the presence of a care coordination team provided the physicians with valuable assistance in managing the overall care of the patients. According to Dr. Cannon, the ACO experience has resulted in “improved medical care and a better patient experience.” McCall concluded, “rural collaboration works, even when it’s with hospitals in a different state.”

 

Speakers: 

  • Lee McCall, Chief Executive Officer, Neshoba County General Hospital Nursing Home. 
  • Heather S. Cannon, MD, Family Medicine, Neshoba Medical Neshoba Medical Associates