In 2024, Friend Community Healthcare System seized the opportunity to qualify for the federal government’s brand new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Still one of just a handful in America, this hospital has embraced the REH model to increase access to local care and forge meaningful regional partnerships.
But the REH model isn’t a golden ticket to operating in the black. In fact, other hospitals undergoing an identical transformation have not been rewarded with the same success.
Integral to Friend’s success story is the dedication of the hospital’s leadership and support from the community. This is the story of Friend Community Healthcare System and, more importantly, the people who have taken proactive measures to ensure a sustainable future of health care for local patients.