What does CAH stand for in the context of healthcare facilities?

In the context of healthcare facilities, CAH stands for Critical Access Hospital. This designation is important because Critical Access Hospitals are rural facilities that provide essential services to communities often lacking access to more comprehensive healthcare systems. The Critical Access Hospital program was established to improve healthcare access in rural areas, ensuring that these facilities can offer basic emergency care and inpatient services, often supported through reimbursement methods designed to stabilize and support rural healthcare systems.

Critical Access Hospitals typically have 25 or fewer inpatient beds and provide 24-hour emergency services. They play a critical role in maintaining healthcare accessibility and addressing both routine and emergency health needs in small and underserved communities, where larger hospitals may be far away. This helps to reduce travel times for patients and enhances overall community health outcomes by ensuring that essential hospital services are available locally.