ELKINS – Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center is planning to transition its designation from an acute care hospital to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), a move officials said is designed to strengthen long-term sustainability while continuing to provide essential services to the community — including obstetric labor and delivery care.

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

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

CAH designation provides enhanced reimbursement for services, helping improve financial sustainability for rural hospitals. The change will also support continued growth in outpatient services, including clinics and surgical care, while maintaining appropriate inpatient and observation services.

Across the country, many rural hospitals 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.

Vandalia Health has applied to the state of West Virginia and federal regulators following a feasibility analysis for Davis Medical Center to transition to Critical Access Hospital status. The approval process requires multiple certifications and is expected to take approximately 12 months.

Hospital leaders 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,” said Jeff Goode, Executive Vice President, Vandalia Health. “This includes outpatient clinics, walk-in care, primary care — and continued access to OB labor and delivery services.”

Employees will remain a priority throughout the transition. 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, officials said.

Providers and administrators are working together to plan for the transition, with a continued focus on patient care, employees and community needs.

Unrelated to the CAH status, Davis Medical Center has been evaluating its home health program and will be closing that non-hospital service. This 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. Human

Resources is working with staff members affected by this closure to find other opportunities within the system.

For more information or a map of locations, visit VandaliaHealth.org.