An electrocardiogram, used to monitor heartbeats, will cost a Medicare patient about $5 at the average hospital but nearly $33 at a rural, critical access hospital. ECGs and nine other frequently provided outpatient services cost from two to six times more for Medicare patients at the nation's rural, critical access hospitals compared to other hospitals, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Inspector General. Critical access hospitals are typically more remote, have fewer beds and require shorter stays. Ohio has 34 of them, or 1 in 5 hospitals in the state.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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