St. James Parish Hospital, in Lutcher, La.

MaryEllen Pratt, writing in Hospitals & Health Networks, touts rural hospitals. As well she would: She’s the CEO of St. James Parish Hospital, in Lutcher, La., and chairwoman of the American Hospital Association’s Small or Rural Governing Council.

She summarizes  her views at the end of her essay:

“{R}ural hospitals have the unique capacity to provide patients with the ‘best of both worlds.’ Rural hospitals are large enough to offer top technology and small enough to talk you through your tests. They are large enough to attract a wide range of specialists, but small enough to offer same-day appointments. They are large enough to compete nationally in regard to quality, but small enough to know your name. Proud to serve our communities, rural hospitals are “Large enough to serve, Small enough to care.”

To read her essay, please hit this link.