Letter to the Editor / Launching First-Ever National Rural Health Week - May 22-26, 2017
By: Patty Holden, CEO, Mesa View Regional Hospital
May 22-26, 2017 marks the first-ever National Rural Health Week and Mesa View Regional Hospital joins community hospitals and caregivers across the nation to highlight the positive impact we have on the patients we care for and the communities we serve.
When you hear rural community, you may think small town. However, when combining the population of areas like ours across the country, it equals nearly 60 million people, or one in five Americans. At the heart of many of those communities is the local hospital.
The obvious benefit that a hospital like ours provides is also our most vital: timely access to health care. Whether you need emergency treatment or need a routine procedure, providing local access to care is essential. When time matters most, having access to essential health care can mean the difference between life and death.
The impact that rural hospitals make on their communities extends far beyond medical capabilities. In many rural areas, the hospital is the largest or second largest employer in the area it serves. Mesa View Regional Hospital takes pride in supporting our local economy by being one of the top 6 largest employers our area.
Healthcare works best when it is local, working specifically to solve issues that are important and relevant to the community. Mesa View has served the Mesquite area and Moapa Valley since 2004. During that time, we have helped close to 100,000 people receive care and provided 24/7 emergency services — all thanks to the never-ending commitment of our clinical and support staff. We are honored to have a staff of dedicated individuals who see healthcare not only as a job, but a personal calling.
The goal of Rural Health Week is to raise awareness about our impact nationwide. We want to spread the word about the importance of rural healthcare to our friends and family in larger cities and our elected officials in Congress. You can help by joining the conversation on social media. Tell people what your hospital means to you and then use #StandUp4RuralHospitals. Working together, small towns can make a big impact on the future of healthcare.
Mesa View Regional Hospital is a 25-bed facility located in Mesquite, Nevada with skilled professional staff that offers award-winning quality and patient –focused healthcare. Mesa View provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient hospital services including an Intensive Care Unit, Medical, Surgical, Orthopedics - Total Joint and Sports Medicine Program, Women’s Health, Laboratory, Cardiopulmonary Testing, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, Imaging and Emergency Medicine Services. Accredited Chest Pain Center, Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, 2012, 2013 and 2014, 4 Star CMS rating. For more information, visit MesaViewHospital.com.