Delta health systems implementation program - for hospitals to survive, strategic efforts will be needed in order to grow service volume, operate more efficiently, and to recruit and retain staff that…

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Pinckneyville Community Hospital $350,000 on September 1, 2026, under the Delta Health Systems Implementation Program (CFDA 93.619), a Project Grant that funds rural healthcare organizations to implement projects improving financial sustainability and access to care.

Pinckneyville Community Hospital, a municipality-owned rural healthcare facility in Illinois, will deploy the funding across four operational components: implementing AI ambient listening technology to support clinical chart documentation and increase clinical efficiency; conducting workforce professional development through staff training events with professional speakers to support recruitment and retention; engaging Chartis to improve Rural Hospital Performance Index scores through quality improvement initiatives; and partnering with Virtucare to develop urology services including new surgical service lines to expand local specialty care access.

The award obligates $350,000 with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. Work is performed in Illinois. The Delta Health Systems Implementation Program provides up to two years of funding to rural healthcare organizations in Delta Region states for projects addressing financial and operational improvement, quality improvement, telehealth, and workforce development. Awards are eligible for non-competitive renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and fund availability.

Delta health systems implementation program - for hospitals to survive, strategic efforts will be needed in order to grow service volume, operate more efficiently, and to recruit and retain staff that creates a stable workforce. Our 2024 strategic plan identified recommendations to recruit for specialty services that included urology; becoming the employer of choice; being recognized with quality and performance awards; and striving towards an operating margin of at least 5%. To stay profitable in light of rising expenses, expense control is a must; however, widespread expense cuts in healthcare are not an option when we must retain high quality of care. As such, this service improvement and growth project will focus on service growth, quality improvement, efficiencies and employee retainage. Components of the project include implementing AI ambient listening technology to aid clinical chart documentation to meet the program objective of implementing new technology to increase clinical efficiency; workforce professional development through staff training events with professional speakers to meet the program objective of workforce recruitment and retention initiatives; engaging chartis to help US improve our chartis rural hospital performance index scores to meet the program objective of implementation of quality improvement initiatives; and engaging virtucare to develop a urology services clinic and surgical service lines to meet the program objective of implementation of project activities that include operational development of new service lines. This project will serve our patients by expanding local access to specialty care and improving quality performance; our providers by reducing the administrative burden of chart documentation; and our employees by creating a culture of accountability and recognition within the hospital that motivates staff to deliver exceptional service and to build a reputation for excellence, thereby attracting and retaining loyal patients and employees.