Rural Hospital Limits

Some rural hospitals deemed "critical access hospitals," like Providence Hood River Memorial, are required to limit the number of patients they treat per-day to 25. Oregon Congressman Greg Walden says the patient limit can be a problem when demand for care increases, during a flu outbreak, for example. He wants to change the limit to a daily average of 20 patients. When these hospitals reach the 25 patient cap, they sent patients to other hospitals... some a long distance from home.