Opening a Rural Hospital: Challenges & Successes
- Riverside Health System's new hospital in Smithfield, Virginia, is slated to open in January 2024, marking the culmination of a project nearly 15 years in the making.
- Isle of Wight County has been designated a medically underserved area (MUA) by the Virginia Health Care foundation,highlighting the limited access to healthcare for its residents.In 2022,...
- The new Riverside Smithfield Hospital will be a comprehensive medical facility, offering a range of services to the community.
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Riverside Smithfield Hospital set to Open in January, Addressing Healthcare Needs in Isle of Wight County
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Published September 21, 2023, at 9:08 PM EDT
Riverside Health System’s new hospital in Smithfield, Virginia, is slated to open in January 2024, marking the culmination of a project nearly 15 years in the making. The Newport News, Virginia-based health system acquired the land in isle of Wight County in 2008, recognizing the growing need for healthcare services in the region.
Isle of Wight County has been designated a medically underserved area (MUA) by the Virginia Health Care foundation,highlighting the limited access to healthcare for its residents.In 2022, the Virginia Department of Health approved the hospital’s certificate of public need, a crucial step allowing construction to proceed.
Facility Details and capacity
The new Riverside Smithfield Hospital will be a comprehensive medical facility, offering a range of services to the community. The hospital will feature:
- 38 medical/surgical beds
- 12 intensive care unit (ICU) beds
- A 15-room emergency department
- Four operating rooms
- Two procedure suites
Financial Projections and patient-centered Approach
William Little, Riverside Health’s chief financial officer, reported positive cash flow projections for the hospital and anticipates a positive return on investment within the first few years of operation. This optimistic outlook is tied to the health system’s core beliefs.
“If you put the patient at the center of everything you do, and you build your teams wiht that same mentality, then the financial metrics are going to come,” Little stated, emphasizing the importance of a patient-focused approach to healthcare delivery.
Impact on Isle of wight County
The opening of Riverside Smithfield hospital is expected to significantly improve healthcare access for residents of Isle of Wight County and surrounding areas. Currently, residents often have to travel considerable distances to receive specialized medical care. The new hospital will bring critical services closer to home, reducing travel times and improving health outcomes.
The hospital is also expected to create new employment opportunities in the region, boosting the local economy. riverside Health has not yet released specific figures on the number of jobs the hospital will create, but it is anticipated to be a substantial contribution to the county’s workforce.
