A qualitative study of hospital health care availability in rural Kentucky

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of chief executive officers of rural hospitals in Kentucky regarding the critical challenges to providing services to poverty-stricken rural populations. A phenomenological case study methodology was used for this research because the purpose of the study was to understand the challenges that confront the chief executive officer when restricting, changing, or eliminating services in the rural hospital. The study used a modified van Kaam method by Moustakas (1994). Nine chief executive officers were interviewed face to face or by telephone. Health care availability for some of the citizens of the rural areas could become problematic as many of the smaller health care facilities have eliminated one or more of the health care programs. The study found that eight of the nine rural hospitals in the study had eliminated the obstetric service.