For many rural communities, surgical care has long meant sacrifice. Patients often travel hours for elective surgery and specialty consults— straining families, delaying treatment, and sending valuable cases (and revenue) to larger systems. Hospitals lose more than patients in this process; they lose revenue, momentum, and often hope of sustaining specialty programs.
One rural hospital decided to break that cycle. By partnering with inReach Surgical, they embedded surgeons on a part-time, long-term basis — providing predictable, mission-aligned coverage that kept specialty care close to home. The result was not only healthier patients, but also a healthier hospital.
Growing Access, One Specialty at a Time
The hospital began with orthopedics (2010), total joints (2011), urology (2014), spine and foot & ankle (2016), pain management and hand surgery (2017–2018), expansion of orthopedics (2021), inReach LlVE (2023), and ophthalmology in 2024.
Each addition filled a long-standing gap:
- Patients who once waited months for a procedure could now be seen in weeks.
- Families no longer had to take days off work to travel hours for routine or advanced surgeries.
- Staff gained confidence with consistent coverage and strengthened care teams.
Behind every service line was a promise fulfilled: care delivered locally, without compromise.
The Community Impact
The results spoke clearly:
- 40% fewer patient transfers — families stayed together during treatment.
- Patients gained access to advanced procedures that once required leaving town.
- Care teams felt supported by specialists who became part of the hospital family.
These numbers translate into neighbors, friends, and loved ones who could get care where they live. For rural communities, the difference was measured in peace of mind as much as in statistics.
The Financial Results
The impact extended well beyond patient convenience — it ensured hospital sustainability. From 2010 to 2022, the hospital saw measurable growth:
- Total revenue after contractuals: +$31.4M, a 47% increase (2.5x growth).
- Surgery revenue: +$4.95M, a 327% increase (5.3x growth).
- Surgery P/L: +$3.40M, a 474% increase (5.7x growth).
- Physical therapy revenue: +$3.06M, a 543% increase (7.4x growth).
- Physical therapy P/L: +$2.01M, an astonishing 1989% increase (20.9x growth).
By embedding part-time, long-term surgeons, the hospital avoided the expense and instability of traditional staffing models — and instead, built specialty programs that grew steadily year after year.
A Model Built to Last
This story reflects a larger truth: rural hospitals don’t have to choose between mission and margin. With the right model, they can achieve both.
inReach Surgical provides specialty coverage that is reliable, cost-effective, and designed for the long haul.
- For patients, it means care close to home, excellent patient outcomes,
- For hospitals, it means growth, stability, and a future where specialty surgery isn’t a stretch, but a strength.
- For physicians, it means living where they choose to live, work-life balance, and extremely rewarding work
