Delta health systems implementation program - STE

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded $350,000 to Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital under the Delta Health Systems Implementation Program (CFDA 93.619) on September 1, 2026.

SGCMH, a rural critical access hospital in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, will engage a survey firm to conduct an employee satisfaction survey using a healthcare-specific analytical platform that provides integrated insights on engagement, resilience, and safety culture across clinical and administrative roles including nurses and physicians. This survey addresses workforce challenges the hospital currently faces in employee retention, recruitment, engagement, and burnout. SGCMH last conducted an employee satisfaction survey in 2020 through the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development program, which provided financial and operational assessments via Stroudwater Associates and Huron consulting partners.

The award period runs through August 31, 2028, with performance at the hospital's location in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Approximately 73 percent of Ste. Genevieve County residents reside in rural areas. The Delta Health Systems Implementation Program funds rural healthcare organizations directly to implement projects that improve financial sustainability and increase access to care through initiatives including workforce development, with awards available for up to two years.

Genevieve county memorial hospital (sgcmh) is a rural, critical access hospital located in the southeast missouri county of STE. Genevieve. According to county demographics, approximately 73% of STE. Genevieve county residents reside in rural AREAS1. Sgcmh joined the delta region community health systems development (drchsd) program in 2019 and graduated in 2022. Through this program, sgcmh engaged stroudwater associates to complete a financial and operational assessment. The assessment aimed to address financial, operational, and industry-specific questions presented by administration, identify top opportunities for improved financial and operational performance, and position sgcmh for success in the rapidly evolving healthcare market. Drchsd's consulting partners, stroudwater associates and huron, were instrumental in identifying opportunities for enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement. Currently sgcmh is facing significant challenges in employee engagement, retention, and recruitment. As a result, our workforce is feeling the pressure to cross-train and take on additional responsibilities to maintain operational efficiency and ensure high-quality patient care. This increased workload has led to concerns about burnout, job satisfaction, and overall morale. Addressing these challenges requires a strategic approach that includes targeted recruitment efforts, enhanced professional development opportunities, and initiatives to foster a positive and supportive workplace culture. Sgcmh has not invested in an employee satisfaction survey since the 2020 drchsd cohort. Sgcmh plans to utilize dsip funds to partner with a survey firm for a satisfaction survey which includes access to a healthcare specific analytical platform. This platform includes an integrated summary of insights for engagement, resilience, and safety culture across healthcare specific roles, including nurses and physicians. Additionally, sgcmh utilizes the intranet as a communication tool with employees. The current intranet technology platform is grossly outdated with limited functionality. Sgcmh plans to utilize dsip funds to engage the same website designer that designed their public website to also create a newly designed intranet. Stroudwater also emphasized the importance of focusing on budget preparation and financial statements. They recommend that rural hospitals involve managers in the development of operating and capital budgets to promote ownership and accountability. However, the recently implemented meditech expanse electronic medical record (EMR) includes a budgeting application that does not meet sgcmh's needs, thus posing a risk of significant financial losses. Sgcmh plans to utilize dsip funds to purchase a budgeting, forecasting, and cost accounting software. 1 county demographics data from county health rankings & roadmaps.