The Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Hospitals 

The emergence of COVID-19 has added a new – and unexpected – pressure point that threatens to further erode the rural health safety net. For rural providers, the spread of COVID-19 across a vulnerable population has the potential to place a significant strain on existing resources (financial and operational), staffing and expertise. In this new analysis, The Chartis Center for Rural Health explores key factors in assessing the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rural health safety net, including access to intensive care unit beds, the reliance on outpatient service revenues, and rural provider days cash on hand.