LAKEPORT — The National Rural Health Resource Center selected Sutter Lakeside Hospital (SLH) for honorable mention in demonstrating excellence and innovation with regard to community engagement.
There were 45 states represented with one Critical Access Hospital nominated for each state. Of those nominations, five hospitals received recognition certificates and nine were chosen for honorable mention.
The federal Critical Access Hospital program is designed to provide additional financial support for small rural hospitals, according to Rebecca Southwick of SLH. The option is offered to geographically-remote hospitals with 25 beds or less to ensure that critical health care services are available locally. SLH converted to a Critical Access Hospital in 2008.
Angelica M. Perez, health program specialist II with the California State Office of Rural Health, nominated SLH for the award. Perez”s nomination specifically cited the Sutter Lakeside Mobile Health Services Unit, a medical office on wheels that travels to patients within Lake County each weekday, and the hospital”s participation in the Institute for Hospital Innovation, Southwick stated.
