What is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH)?

A Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is defined as a non-profit hospital that has 25 or fewer beds and provides 24-hour emergency care. This designation was created to help ensure that rural communities have access to essential healthcare services. The CAH model is crucial in enhancing the accessibility of healthcare in underserved areas, as it allows smaller hospitals to operate under different regulations and increased reimbursement rates from Medicare, ensuring their sustainability and ability to serve their local populations effectively.

In contrast to this, larger urban hospitals often feature multiple specialties and advanced medical technology, and teaching hospitals are affiliated with universities, focusing on education and research rather than community-centered healthcare. Private facilities may offer specialized care but do not fit the federal criteria required to be categorized as a CAH. Thus, the unique attributes of a Critical Access Hospital make the first option the correct choice.