The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center has announced plans to transition to a Critical Access Hospital.

ELKINS – Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center officials announced plans Wednesday to transition its designation from an acute care hospital to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) while promising to continue services like obstetric labor and delivery care.

In response to The Inter-Mountain’s request for information, Vandalia Health announced in a press release Wednesday morning that it has applied to the state of West Virginia and federal regulators “following a feasibility analysis for Davis Medical Center” to transition the hospital to Critical Access Hospital status. Officials say the approval process requires multiple certifications and is expected to take approximately 12 months.

The release states that the move is meant to “strengthen long-term sustainability while continuing to provide essential services to the community,” including obstetric labor and delivery care.

“This transition allows us to align with national trends in rural health care while preserving the services our community depends on,” Chief Nursing Officer for Davis Medical Center Diana Landsverk, RN, BSN, MBA, said in the release. “Importantly, Davis Medical Center will continue to provide labor and delivery services.”

Critical Access Hospitals are rural hospitals that are designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure access to health care services in underserved areas, the release states. Like acute care hospitals, CAHs provide inpatient care and 24/7 emergency services, but they operate with no more than 25 inpatient beds, with an additional 9 observation beds, and an average length of stay of 96 hours or less. Vandalia Health reports that the average daily census at Davis Medical Center is 28 patients.

The release states that many rural hospitals across the country are pursuing CAH designation in response to evolving health care reimbursement models and resource challenges. There are currently more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals nationwide, including 21 in West Virginia. Vandalia Health currently operates several Critical Access Hospitals across the state, including Vandalia Health Broaddus Hospital in Philippi.

Vandalia Health says that the CAH designation provides enhanced reimbursement for services, helping improve financial sustainability for rural hospitals. The change is said to also support continued growth in outpatient services, including clinics and surgical care, while maintaining appropriate inpatient and observation services. Hospital leaders have emphasized that the transition will not reduce services.

“All existing specialty services will remain in place, and patients will continue to receive the same quality care they expect from Davis Medical Center,” Vandalia Health Executive Vice President Jeff Goode said in the release. “This includes outpatient clinics, walk-in care, primary care — and continued access to OB labor and delivery services.”

Employees will also remain a priority throughout the CAH transition, the release states, stressing that, while some roles “may evolve” as inpatient services are adjusted and outpatient services expand, leaders expect “new opportunities” for staff within the organization.

“Over the past two years, Vandalia Health has invested more than $50 million in Davis Medical Center and will continue investing in the facility, particularly in expanding outpatient services and strengthening access to care across the region,” according to the release. “Providers and administrators are working together to plan for the transition, with a continued focus on patient care, employees and community needs.”

Davis Medical Center has also been evaluating its home health program and will be closing that non-hospital service, the release states, noting that this move is unrelated to the CAH status.

Officials say this change will “allow for continued focus on providing hospital and primary care and specialty care services needed in the community.”

“In the counties where DMC is providing home health services, there are other providers and DMC is working with them to transition each patient without a disruption in their care,” the release states. “Human Resources is working with staff members affected by this closure to find other opportunities within the system.”

For more information, visit VandaliaHealth.org.