Healthcare Expansion Brings Medical Treatment Closer to Home, Supporting Workforces and Saving Lives

Business retention and expansion (BR&E) efforts send ripple effects through communities. Not only do they support job creation and stability, but they also provide access to amenities that improve the local quality of life. One of the clearest examples of BR&E building up entire regions is investment in the healthcare industry.

Golden Shovel Agency, a marketing firm that supports economic development efforts for municipalities of all sizes, is taking a deep dive into the effects of BR&E on local populations. Here’s how healthcare investment correlates to employment, population growth, and the positive perception of communities. 

Medical Expansion Attracts Talent in and out of Hospitals

New medical facilities immediately affect the local workforce. One great example is the medical school in the CentraCare Regional Campus in St. Cloud, Minnesota, which is the first expansion from the University of Minnesota Medical School in over 50 years. The new medical school will welcome 24 students this fall and will eventually have a student body of 96.

This medical school allows students to learn close to home instead of leaving to study in Minneapolis. Even before opening, it attracted doctors and medical specialists who wanted to be part of a teaching environment. Not only does this immediately affect population growth as more doctors arrive in St. Cloud, but it also creates opportunities for future medical employment. Medical school graduates can work alongside their professors, staying in St. Cloud instead of leaving to work in larger cities.

Dr. Jill Amsberry, Assistant Dean at the CentraCare Regional Campus, highlights how this new school also affects the non-medical population. Physicians rarely move alone. They bring their spouses, kids, and other family members to their new communities. They can also become ambassadors to St. Cloud and encourage their peers to move here as well. 

Healthcare Access Supports Population Retention

Access to healthcare is an important amenity that many families consider before settling into a town or city. According to the National Rural Healthcare Association (NRHA), there are 53.3 physicians per 100,000 residents in urban areas but only 39.8 in rural communities. If residents have access to quality healthcare, including treatment from specialty physicians, they are more likely to stay in or move to an area.

For example, the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center (ENMMC) in Roswell supports residents within three hours of the city. It has invested in better ER services, cardiac facilities, and stroke response teams to help residents facing emergencies. The people of Chaves County and surrounding areas don’t have to travel to Albuquerque or Las Cruces to get the help they need.

“Minutes matter, and if we do our jobs well, we can have generational impacts,” says Warren Yehl, CEO of ENMMC.

The investment in healthcare expansion saves lives and leads to better patient outcomes with early intervention. Any family that moves to Roswell or the surrounding areas can feel confident they will receive quality medical care if needed. 

Proximity to Healthcare Has Secondary Economic Benefits

Access to medical care and treatment has indirect but significant benefits to local communities. When a doctor’s appointment is just down the road, instead of across the state, it doesn’t take all day. Residents don’t have to miss work (and secure childcare and transportation, both of which can be costly) whenever they have a doctor’s appointment. This means there is less lost income due to medical care or lost paid time off, so the vacation hours go toward more enjoyable events.

Proximity to medical care also means residents are more likely to seek treatment early on or schedule preventative medical screenings. In Emporia, Kansas, Newman Regional Health is actively involved in the community and encourages preventative screenings. Catching problems early on can lead to more treatment options, fewer severe side effects, and greater chances of a full recovery. For example, the survival rate for stage one breast cancer is greater than 99%.

Early intervention is also usually less expensive than emergency care or late-stage treatment. The presence of local medical facilities can save lives, lead to better long-term outcomes, and protect the finances of residents. 

Healthcare Expansion is an Investment in a Community’s Future

Healthcare expansion doesn’t just create jobs in the medical field. It also saves the lives of residents while attracting new ones. From early intervention in cancer screenings to rapid responses during a stroke, the people in your community can feel confident that their medical needs will be taken care of. Quality treatment is right around the corner.

Discover additional BR&E insights by Golden Shovel Agency and take steps to expand and attract businesses in your area.