FMOL Health was losing patients to outside hospitals. Here’s the fix that kept them in-house

FMOL Health, a Baton Rouge-based 10-hospital system, was struggling with a high transfer rate to outside hospitals, even when they could provide the same care. CEO E.J. Kuiper recognized the need for a dedicated rural strategy and mandated it to keep patients in-house. After implementing this strategy about 14 months ago, the system has significantly improved its retention rates, highlighting the importance of tailored healthcare strategies for rural areas to ensure comprehensive and accessible patient care. This move underscores the potential benefits of local healthcare systems when they adapt to the specific needs of their communities.