Exemplary quotes on motivations of rural hospitals to improve community health
| Themes | Quotes |
| 1. Internal values | |
| Vision and mission | One of our missions is to support our community’s health, so we need to ask ourselves what is right for the patients and the community. We only exist because we have a patient population to serve, and if we are failing to provide the support, then the community fails, and then we would ultimately fail (CEO, Hospital C). |
| Leadership commitment | Instead of acting reactively and fixing people, our CEO was into proactive health. He focused on preventative efforts, and he was an advocate for the wellness center to get the community active in the wellness center before they developed diabetes or high blood pressure (Wellness Coordinator, Hospital A). |
| 2. Economic conditions | |
| Healthcare market | The fact that the other hospitals have mental health services, we say, ‘If they can do it (meeting community need of psychiatry service), why can't we?’ I think that is a good thing, rather than say, ‘Oh, we cannot do it.’ Your competitor is doing it, we should be able to do it, so I think that is an example of a good outcome of the competition (Nurse Coordinator, Hospital D). |
| Funding availability | You had the combination of grants and money and attention on students, which everyone loves to pay attention to those youngest members of your community, and I feel like it was just a very positive environment. The wellness committee and the school district brought together many different stakeholders to support the student program (Outreach Coordinator, Hospital B). |
| 3. Social responsibilities | |
| Wellness and medical needs | We really focused our improvement efforts on those needs (chronic disease management, cancer prevention and treatment, access to wellness, and mental health services) and really trying to create more wellness focus through the community. Whether or not people are patients (Outreach Coordinator, Hospital C). |
| Community issues | A year and a half ago, when we had an adolescent suicide, that raised awareness of the issue. Since then, one of our psychologists has been active with the schools and helping with some education and awareness in that (Nurse Coordinator, Hospital D). |
CEO, Chief Executive Officer.