To meet the challenges of a post-pandemic period and to keep pace with the needs of a diverse community, St. Mark's Medical Center (SMMC) looked to USDA's Emergency Rural Health Care Grant program for help.

SMMC contributed $4.8 million in uncompensated care and free services in FY2021, providing healthcare close to home for patients in the Texas communities of Fayette and Lee Counties.

"We are proud to be able to help our most vulnerable community members access quality health care, and as a rural, community hospital, this is also why we look for outside funding opportunities such as grants and endowments from our foundation and the community, said President Mark Kimball."

The USDA emergency rural healthcare grant was a game changer for the 65-bed, 100,000-square foot not-for-profit hospital. The grant funds replaced 10 year old pre-owned capsa carts and helped to procure a building automation system to monitor temperature, humidity & airflow of the entire facility. The emergency grant also provided patient monitors used for medical decision-making, bedside patient monitors, telemetry transmitters, central monitoring stations, and vital sign monitors in the Emergency Department, Surgical Services, Ambulatory Care Services, and the Medical/Surgical inpatient unit.

“As I reflect on 2021, I also continue to be impressed with the level of care that our team provides for the more mainstream services available at SMMC -- orthopedic, cardiac, surgical, emergency, wound care, and more.”

St. Mark's is a part of the Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) family of hospitals. CHC is a not-for-profit company whose sole mission is to help not-for-profit hospitals, such as St. Mark's Medical Center, remain community-operated and governed. St. Mark's is the proud recipient of the TMF Health Quality Institute Silver Award, exemplifying the hospital's dedication to continuous quality improvement. USDA Rural Development is pleased to help SMMC continue its healthcare mission.