U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith visited Buchanan General Hospital on Sept. 18 to tour the facility and hear directly from hospital leaders about its operations and the challenges rural health care providers face.
Griffith toured several areas of the hospital before meeting with members of its administrative staff and governing board. The meeting allowed hospital officials to discuss the services Buchanan General provides, voice concerns affecting its operations, and identify areas where Griffith and his congressional office may be able to assist.
Buchanan General Hospital CEO Robert D. Ruchti said the visit provided hospital leaders with a valuable opportunity to discuss the difficulties rural hospitals face.
“I think the visit went really well,” Ruchti said. “Congressman Griffith was very receptive to the concerns and issues the hospital is facing and offered to try to help us in any way he could. We were able to show him some of the facility and talk to him about what Buchanan General provides to the community and the importance of rural health care.”
Rural hospitals play an important role in communities such as Buchanan County, where residents may otherwise be required to travel considerable distances for medical care. Those facilities also face financial pressures, staffing needs and other challenges that can make maintaining services difficult.
Griffith listened to the concerns raised by hospital officials and discussed ways he could work with them to support Buchanan General and its mission of providing health care to residents of Buchanan County and the surrounding region.
Those participating in the visit included Ruchti; Chief Financial Officer Tim Matney; board Chairman Danny Elswick; board Vice President Jim Wayne Childress; board member Willis Smith; public relations director Sam Bartley and Pharmacy Director Scott Justus.
