Georgia’s “Hub and Spoke” model for rural healthcare providers
Rural hospitals in Georgia have received a much needed boost through the newly passed funding for the hub and spoke model. There will be four hospitals designated as hubs statewide in this pilot project: Union General, Appling Health System, Crisp Regional and Emanuel Regional Medical Center. The program has allocated $3m to help fund necessary infrastructure. Under this mode, larger systems will direct patients to facilities suitable to provide the appropriate care, to help offset smaller rural hospitals from having to offer specialized services, where they lack the funding to sustain such care.