Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, Mont., closed its home health agency, effective Jan. 1.
The decision was made as Clark Fork Valley continued to battle ongoing labor shortages, financial losses and the regulatory burdens of operating home health organizations.
Hospice services are unaffected by the decision, the hospital said in a news release. Clark Fork Valley was the last remaining critical access hospital in western Montana to operate home health and hospice services. These burdens have been particularly challenging for rural agencies given the low population density and broad areas that are served.
"We try to offer every service possible for Sanders County residents, but the obstacles of operating a certified home health program have grown more challenging in recent years," CEO Greg Hanson, MD, said.
The hospital said it contacted current patients and providers who regularly used its home health agency to explain the changes.
"This is another unfortunate change that is increasingly common in rural areas of our country," Dr. Hanson said. "Our governing board struggled but in the end we believe this was the best decision that would allow us to retain the majority of home-based services for Sanders County residents in a sustainable manner well into the future."