Strengthening preventative care and reducing avoidable admissions
Rural hospitals are under mounting pressure. From Medicaid funding uncertainties to provider shortages and shifting patient demographics, the sustainability of these facilities is at risk. Since 2010, more than 130 rural hospitals have closed, with a record 19 closures in 2020 alone.¹ Notably, 90 percent of these closures occurred in states that had not expanded Medicaid at the time.²
Amid these challenges, a promising opportunity has emerged: connected care.
Encompassing remote patient monitoring (RPM), telehealth, and care coordination tools, connected care must not be viewed as a technological convenience. For hospitals serving rural communities, it’s becoming a strategic imperative. When implemented in partnership with primary care providers and specialists, it can support preventative care, reduce unnecessary admissions, and ensure patients are supported before their conditions escalate.
A missed opportunity
Historically, hospitals have shouldered the burden of late-stage care, treating chronic conditions only after they've spiraled into emergencies. This reactive model is unsustainable, particularly for rural hospitals operating on tight margins.
By contrast, connected care shifts the focus upstream. It enables primary care providers, specialists, and hospital partners to identify risks earlier, intervene proactively, and maintain ongoing engagement with patients, especially those with chronic or complex conditions.
Utilization of connected care means fewer hospitalizations, fewer readmissions, and better use of limited clinical resources.
Building a network of support around the patient
1. Remote monitoring bridges the gaps between visits
RPM enables care teams to track vital signs including blood pressure, weight, glucose levels, and more on a daily real-time basis. For hospitals, this translates into actionable data that can alert clinicians before a patient deteriorates, preventing an ER visit or unplanned admission.
For example, Frederick Health’s Chronic Care Management program reported an 83 percent reduction in hospital readmissions among telehealth patients, resulting in nearly $5.1 million in cost savings.³
2. Telehealth enables early specialist access
For rural patients, delayed access to specialty care often results in the progression of their condition. Telehealth connects patients with specialists sooner, reducing wait times, enabling timely treatment plans, and minimizing complications that would otherwise result in hospitalization.
One meta-analysis found that telehealth interventions reduced condition-related hospitalizations by 15.6 percent.⁴
3. Care coordination prevents readmissions
Discharge is not the end of the care journey. Connected care tools support post-discharge check-ins, medication adherence tracking, and real-time symptom monitoring, especially critical during the first 30 days. When primary care providers and specialists work alongside hospitals through these platforms, they form a safety net that keeps patients from bouncing back to the ER.
Why hospitals should lead in connected care
Hospitals are uniquely positioned to lead connected care strategies or partner with trusted technology and care delivery organizations. Doing so can:
- Reduce avoidable admissions and readmissions
- Enhance value-based care metrics and reimbursement outcomes.
- Expand service reach without adding staff or infrastructure.
- Strengthen relationships with primary care providers and specialists.
As value-based models expand and Medicaid policies shift, hospitals that adopt preventive, tech-enabled strategies will be better prepared to sustain their financial health and community impact.
Hospitals, PCPs, and specialists working together
Connected care is not a siloed solution — it thrives on collaboration. The best outcomes occur when hospitals, primary care providers, and specialists align around a shared goal: keeping patients healthier longer.
That means breaking down data silos, investing in systems that facilitate collaboration, and supporting clinicians with the tools they need to intervene early before a hospitalization becomes necessary.
The future of rural health care doesn’t rest solely within hospital walls — it depends on strong partnerships, preventative care, and the intelligent use of connected care technologies.
Hospitals that capitalize on this opportunity can transform from last-resort providers to proactive health leaders, strengthening their role in the community while enhancing patient outcomes and financial stability.
NRHA adapted the above piece from Kangaroo Health, a trusted NRHA partner, for publication within the Association’s Rural Health Voices blog.
 | About the author: Sesily Maness is the head of marketing at Kangaroo Health with over 10 years of experience in digital health marketing. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Campbell University and specializes in connecting innovative care technologies with the needs of rural health care providers. Sesily is passionate about using data to drive proactive care and improve health equity in underserved communities. |
References
- American Hospital Association. (2022). New AHA Report Finds Rural Hospital Closures Threaten Patient Access to Care. https://www.aha.org/press-releases/2022-09-08-new-aha-report-finds-rural-hospital-closures-threaten-patient-access-care
- The Missouri Times. (2023). Report Finds 90 Percent of Rural Hospital Closures Happen in States That Did Not Expand Medicaid. https://themissouritimes.com/report-finds-90-percent-of-rural-hospital-closures-happen-in-states-that-did-not-expand-medicaid
- Smart Meter. (2023). How Remote Patient Monitoring Is Reducing Readmissions. https://smartmeterrpm.com/blog/how-remote-patient-monitoring-is-reducing-readmissions
- Hanlon, P. et al. (2021). Effectiveness of Telehealth Interventions in Reducing Hospitalizations: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8444037