Date of Conferral

8-28-2025

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Annie Brown

Abstract

Rural hospital closures disproportionately impact the lives of rural residents across the United States, directly affecting health outcomes for rural communities and the overall financial viability of rural health institutions. Policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders are concerned about these closures because they threaten access to care and contribute to health disparities. Grounded in Fiedler’s contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore business strategies rural hospital administrators use to prevent rural hospital closures. The participants were five rural hospital administrators who successfully prevented the closure of their rural hospitals. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, 12 themes emerged: (a) quality of care, (b) community engagement, (c) financial viability, (d) policy advocacy, (e) telemedicine, (f) networking, (g) medical reimbursement, (h) innovative services, (i) workforce health, (j) services based on needs, (k) patient travel, and (l) certifications. A key recommendation is for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders to use these identified innovative strategies to improve budgeting, staffing, and service delivery. The implications for positive social change include the potential for rural hospitals to enhance financial outcomes, advance critical health services, and improve quality of care for rural communities.

Download

Share

 
COinS