Jordan Johnson, Founder and Principal at Bridge Oncology and Legal Data Expert, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Rural hospital closures are no longer just a healthcare operations issue—they are rapidly becoming a cancer care crisis.
Today, 720 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, while 195 have already closed or converted since 2005. For cancer patients, these facilities are often the first step in the care journey, providing screenings, imaging, diagnostics, referrals, and ongoing support close to home.
The consequences are real. Rural patients receiving radiation therapy travel an average of 40.8 miles one-way for treatment, and more than half report transportation-related disruptions to care. Longer distances often mean delayed diagnoses, missed treatments, increased financial hardship, and worse outcomes.
Protecting rural hospitals means protecting access to cancer care. It also means supporting community oncology, preserving 340B resources, expanding telehealth and virtual supervision, and embracing innovative models like MASON that recognize the value of access—not just volume.
The future of rural healthcare and rural oncology are inseparable. If we lose these hospitals, patients lose far more than a building—they lose a lifeline.”
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