Myrtue Medical Center awarded $2.7 million from Healthy Hometowns Initiative to strengthen rural healthcare

HARLAN — Myrtue Medical Center has received funding through Iowa’s Rural Health Transformation Program, Healthy Hometowns. This investment will support ongoing innovation in rural healthcare delivery and strengthen services for the communities Myrtue serves. 
Healthy Hometowns is a statewide initiative focused on improving health outcomes, expanding access to care, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural healthcare systems. Through this funding, participating organizations collaborate to modernize care models, enhance care coordination, and address critical health needs unique to rural populations.
“We are incredibly grateful for the investment in our hospital and our community,” said Kile Magner, CEO Myrtue Medical Center. “This funding strengthens our ability to recruit healthcare professionals, enhance our medical technology – including bringing MRI services in-house – and expand maternal and child health services. Most importantly, it means families in our region will continue to receive comprehensive, high-quality care close to home.”  
BEST & BRIGHTEST WORKFORCE – PROVIDER RECRUITMENT 
Funding will support recruitment of an OB/GYN or family practice physician to meet and sustain the emerging demand for women’s health services, including prenatal care; labor and delivery; postpartum recovery support; maternal mental health screening and treatment; and ongoing gynecological care for women of all ages. This provider also will enable Myrtue to expand outreach services to our surrounding rural community. 
BEST & BRIGHTEST WORKFORCE – NURSE RECRUITMENT 
Myrtue Medical Center will also recruit a Registered Nurse (RN). This position will coordinate care with an emphasis on obstetric and gynecologic services, support patient triage and coordination with other specialty providers, and contribute to improving care delivery and outcomes organization-wide. 
This position will provide individualized support to patients, ensuring coordination across departments and providers, improving communication and enhancing the overall patient experience.
BEST & BRIGHTEST MEDICAL EQUIPMENT - MRI 
Myrtue Medical Center will install a permanent, in-house MRI system, transitioning away from reliance on a mobile MRI unit that currently serves patients a couple days a week. Establishing on-site MRI services represents a significant advancement in local diagnostic capabilities, allowing for faster imaging turnaround times, more flexible scheduling, and improved coordination between providers.
An in-house MRI will enhance continuity of care by enabling physicians to order and review imaging studies more promptly, supporting quicker diagnoses and treatment decisions. For rural patients, this investment reduces the need to travel outside the community for advanced imaging, minimizing time away from work and family while decreasing transportation barriers. 
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE – MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHCARE
Key factors in this designation as a regional Center of Excellence include the ability to provide sustainable, comprehensive care to mothers and their children across a range of services. This is accomplished through integrated gynecological care, maternal mental health support, lactation services, childbirth education, and expanded access to specialty care in rural communities through outreach to surrounding areas. 
Funds will support initiatives such as improved care coordination, expanded maternal health services, and ongoing innovation in rural healthcare delivery. 
Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $78.6 million in Healthy Hometowns funding to enhance rural health care through investments in medical equipment and workforce recruitment incentives. If fully funded, the State of Iowa could receive up to $200 million per project year, totaling $1 billion over the five-year grant period. Backed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through Iowa’s Rural Health Transformation Program, this initiative positions Iowa as the first state in the nation to distribute funds under the federal program, with additional grant opportunities anticipated later this year.
By participating in Healthy Hometowns, Myrtue Medical Center aligns with healthcare organizations across Iowa that are committed to improving rural health outcomes through collaboration, innovation, and measurable results.
Learn more at https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/healthy-hometowns-iowas-rural-health-t…