CARLE RICHLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND SSM HEALTH GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL RECOGNIZED BY ICAHN

Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney and SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon are two of eight rural hospitals being highlighted by the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. According to ICAHN, as access to maternity care continues to decline in many rural communities, they are shining a spotlight on member hospitals that continue to provide labor and delivery services. They say of the 20 rural hospitals in Illinois that offer labor and delivery services, eight are ICAHN members. They say that while these hospitals maintain dedicated labor and delivery programs, ICAHN leaders stress that the absence of a labor and delivery department does not mean a rural hospital is unprepared. Tracy Warner, executive director of ICAHN, says “We’re incredibly proud of the hospitals that continue to offer labor and delivery services despite the significant financial and workforce challenges facing rural healthcare.”