432 Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closing 

As many as 432 rural hospitals are vulnerable to closure, and of the 48 states with rural hospitals, 38 have at least one vulnerable hospital, according to a report by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The loss of a rural hospital can trigger a downward spiral of economic hardship and community health status, according to the report. In New Jersey and Rhode Island, all hospitals are located in urban areas.

In the past 15 years, 182 rural hospitals have either closed or converted to an operating model that does not provide inpatient care (e.g., long-term care, Rural . . .