Among the National Rural Health Day celebrations, RCH held a “What Rural Healthcare Means to Me” Contest among employees. The week prior to NRHD, all employees were encouraged to submit why they find rural healthcare to be so important, personally and/or professionally. We received a lot of great answers, and RCH Case Manager, Jackie Koenig took the cake! Or, free meal in our cafeteria, rather. đ
The following is the list of the other excellent responses we received:
Rural to me means we are very fortunate to have a hospital in our small town. We are very blessed with lifesaving services and also healthcare at our doorsteps. We can keep educating community the word âRURALâ so we can create awareness âTo be proud of the great services of Rochelle Community Hospitalâ
Lorena Hueramo, Human Resources Generalist
Personally, Rural Healthcare means a more individualized healthcare experience. Small enough to know me, cares enough to get the services I need, if it is not offered locally, works to connect me to that care. Professionally, it means I get to personally know the majority of staff members and work with a great team of highly diversified medical professionals. I feel a part of the hospital, its growth and stability, a connection to the local community. I am provided with great  benefits and offered promotions that are personalized to my interests.
Donna Trout, Clinical Applications Specialist
Rural healthcare, to me, means meeting patients where they are at, both personally and geographically, to give them the most up to date medical care, serving as a local source of health information and care that patients can trust and rely on, as well as treating patients as individuals and having the time and compassion to know patients as people, not as numbers.
Dr. Graham Isaacson, DO, Family Healthcare Clinic
Rural Healthcare is a blessing. Itâs help when you need it. Itâs a friendly, caring and compassionate relationship with patients.
Judy Zeinz, Health Information Management Clerk
I think having Rochelle Community Hospital in our town is such a Blessing. For our community to have healthcare so close is great for many reasons. For the elderly to have a doctor close by and be able to do labs without driving a half hour to Rockford or Dekalb. Some of our patients have labs done every few days. Having emergency medical services so close is mater of life or death in some instances.
Kelly Smith, Surgical HUC
Me as an employee: When I was looking for a job closer to home in 2007, I wanted a company that was non for profit, but I also wanted a company who was invested in their community. I found my home here at RCH.
I am proud to be part of our independent, non-profit, Critical Access Hospital that is dedicated to making a beneficial impact to our staff, area communities and local industriesâ health and well-being. Through our Community Health Needs Assessment and subsequent Strategic Planning efforts, as a rural healthcare hospital, we are very aware of and compassionate towards the needs of the surrounding area. Our goal is to provide as many local services as possible, allowing easy and quick access and eliminating the 35-45 mile travel to the next closest healthcare facility. Our medical providers and staff have the privilege of concurrently caring for multiple generations of the same family; this is an example of rural care at its best; building trusting relationships that last a lifetime. I am equally as proud to be the Employer of Choice for our employees, offering them the opportunity to work where they want to work in a positive, family-friendly culture. In addition, we devote much effort in âgrowing our own futureâ as we focus on supporting healthcare careers for our employees and those of students as we partner with area schools.
Denise Bauer, Chief Human Resources Officer
Rural healthcare means being entrusted to care for those who put food on our table, fuel in our vehicles and power to our homes.
Thomas Warzecha, Pharmacist
I believe rural healthcare is an opportunity to meet people where they are with their health needs. Rochelle Hospital stives to offer quality care right in our communities back yard. The intimate setting of rural care provides patients with personalized care tailored to meet the patientâs specific needs in an efficient and timely fashion. Patientâs are able to develop relationships with providers and staff that are truly focused on the best outcomes.
Kyle Auman, Chief Ancillary Officer
The rural hospital is often a large employer in the communities they serve, providing competitive wages and a positive work environment for career growth. Rural Hospitals are wonderful assets and I believe they are critical to healthcare delivery in the future.
Rural health means providing qualify healthcare services to patients we know â often, even being able to recognize as soon as they walk into our hospital. Our patients are not just another number, and rural health offers the ability for healthcare to be individualized for the patient providing positive outcomes. It also means providing state of the art imaging, laboratory, rehabilitation, and other clinical services without a lengthy drive into a crowded and unfamiliar metropolitan area.
Zac Heward, Patient Financial Services Manager
Rural Healthcare is a hospital, clinic, etc that is located in small towns that are not close to bigger cities. This makes it easier for the community to get the healthcare that they need in a matter of moments. Without rural healthcare, people may not seek out healthcare from a physician or hospital as they may not want to drive to a bigger city. Rural Healthcare saves lives đ
Jennifer Marshall, Insurance Clerk
What Rural Health care means to me is that when you walk into the building you know you are helping you community to feel better wholistically, knowing that your community is taking care of each other and treated by such kind people that listen to all your needs and always have smiles on their faces, you know you can trust each other with your life.
Amanda, Welter, Certified Nursing Assistant
Rural healthcare means a friendly, familiar face. A small-town hospital means you get good and timely care. At Rochelle Community Hospital your not just a number.
Ema Bauer, Radiology Technician
RCH enjoyed a magnificent National Rural Health Day. Thank you to all that make our rural community hospital so stable and exceptional!