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rural health

Healthcare Hollow: Federal rural health funding sounds good, so why are there concerns?

By Catherine Sweeney

April 14, 2026

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Tennessee could get about $1 billion to invest in its rural health care over the next five years. Gov. Bill Lee and his administration are drumming up excitement for the plan, which they say is an opportunity to rebuild the state’s broken rural health infrastructure. But some critics are worried there may be strings attached. […]

Tagged With: rural health, Rural Health Association of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Healthcare Hollow: Infections can be deadly in rural Tennessee; one county is trying to change that

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

April 14, 2026

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In rural Hawkins County, Tennessee, a reliable hospital is 30 to 45 minutes away. That’s precious time without treatment for patients experiencing sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.

Filed Under: Health Care, Healthcare Hollow, WPLN News Tagged With: Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Health Care, rural health, rural Tennessee, sepsis

Study: Rural Tennessee hospitals could lose additional labor and delivery wings

By Catherine Sweeney

April 24, 2025

Rural Tennesseans already have limited access to labor and delivery services, and a recent study shows the problem could get worse.

Filed Under: Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: maternal health, rural health, rural hospitals

Freestanding ERs are becoming more common. Middle Tennessee could soon have four more.

By Catherine Sweeney

August 21, 2024

Back in 2001, freestanding facilities made up about 1% of all emergency departments across the U.S. As of last year, that number was closer to 11%. 

Filed Under: Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: emergency rooms, ERs, HCA TriStar, hospital, hospitals, rural health, rural hospitals

NashVillager Podcast: The ongoing troubles at Community Health Systems

By Nina Cardona

June 26, 2024

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Is a major Midstate hospital chain done downsizing yet? Plus the local news for June 26, 2024.

Filed Under: Health Care, NashVillager Podcast, WPLN News Tagged With: HCA, hospitals, rural health, rural hospitals

Rural health centers across Tennessee are getting solar microgrids

By Caroline Eggers

March 14, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy is providing grants to install solar microgrids across the Southeast.

Filed Under: Environment, WPLN News Tagged With: grid, health, renewable energy, rural health, solar

Hearing loss is greater among people living in rural areas, study finds

By Ayesha Rascoe, NPR

January 29, 2024

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A new study looking at hearing loss finds that it’s greater among people living in rural areas. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe talks with audiologist Nicholas Reed, who co-authored the study.

Filed Under: Health Care, NPR News, Science, WPLN News Tagged With: hearing loss, rural health, rural Tennessee

In Middle Tennessee, several hospitals are still haunted by a failed billing scheme

By Blake Farmer

July 18, 2022

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Part of Perry Community Hospital’s financial collapse was due to losing a contract with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, which is still demanding the hospital pay back $5 million in overbilling for inflated lab testing.

Filed Under: Business, Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: lab billing, Perry Community Hospital, Perry County, rural health, rural hospitals, Wess Ward

With rural hospitals in financial straits, some Tennessee communities are selling theirs for $1

By Blake Farmer

April 3, 2022

Kyle Kopec flashlight
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A Florida-based company called Braden Health is snapping up closed and distressed hospitals in West Tennessee that few others seem to want.

Filed Under: Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: Braden Health, hospitals, rural health, rural hospitals, West Tennessee

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