In 1997 the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Program was created by the federal Balanced Budget Act to assure Medicare beneficiaries access to health care services within rural areas. It was designed to allow more flexible staffing options relative to community need, simplify billing needs, and create incentives to develop local integrated health systems for acute, primary, emergency, and long term care.

Since then, CAH's have become a common method of delivering care to rural areas. However, as these communities experience economic hardships and a rapidly aging population, CAH's are left to fill the civic gaps with struggling communities throughout the Midwest. This new identity is dramatically shaping how rural CAH's are planned, designed, and operated.

Recently, there has been an influx of data and planning guidelines promoting the positive impacts of renovating and/or replacing existing CAH's. However, in the pursuit of more efficient facilities, very few available resources attempt to understand the complexity of rural communities and the responsibility many administrators absorb as the renewed civic icon for their local population.

All hospitals, regardless of size and organization structure, benefit from comparative data on services and performance. However, the organizational structure (with allocated reimbursements) and community demands unique to CAH's make it important to have indicators outlined that capture each hospitals specific circumstances in hopes of predicting the future performance and success.

This presentation authored by Ron Menze, AIA, ACHA, and Zach Benedict, Assoc. AIA, was deleivered at the Indiana Rural Health Association Conference in June 2010.   

2010 Environments for Aging National Conference

March 22, 2010

San Diego, CA

Modern development patterns have had a drastic impact on American communities.  As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, however, the success of these communities will begin to be challenged. With the growing value of walkable neighborhoods and a demand for multi-generational communities, cities and towns will need to begin to consider how they will accommodate this rapidly aging demographic in a competitive and global marketplace.

This presentation represents extensive research and investigation to explore how senior living can be used as a catalyst for revitalizing failing downtowns.  In partnering with local governments officials, economic development leaders, and innovative care providers, this work begins to illustrate how environments for the aging can re-energize small town America and grant them the critical mass needed to offer an elevated and vibrant quality of life. 

Through educational outreach, business incubation, public transit, and collaborative retail efforts, this presentation examines how retirees can promote the reintroduction of traditional neighborhood living and lay the groundwork for multi-generational communities.  This presentation challenges the future of senior living and focuses on the revitalization of failing downtowns.  This discussion is about the restoration of communities.

For more information on this research please contact Zach Benedict at zbenedict@MKMdesign.com.

Presented the the Environments for Aging conference in Boston, Massachusetts and IAHSA conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in May 2009

As the Boomers begin to select environments in which to retire, their expectations will revolutionize the way CCRCs are defined and developed. Today's CCRC development patterns mimic the vocabulary of the suburb — an environment transformed by soccer moms, drive-through restaurants, and obsessive privatization that disallows social interaction. The new aging population will demand walkable, vibrant neighborhoods and will search for "communities" to live-in-place rather than age-in-place. This presentation explores how the identity of a "community" and basic urban planning skills can transform the way in which we interact with our environments. Topics discussed will include the history and evolution of American urbanism and its affect on our everyday lives; how development decisions affect lifestyle habits and daily routines; and explore how urbanism can improve the social framework of CCRC's and anticipate future needs.

Karra Heggen, CNO at Dupont Hospital, along with Ron Menze and Jerry Nix, partners at Morrison Kattman Menze architectural firm are featured speakers at the 2008 Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo on September 11 in Chicago, Illinois. Their presentation titled, “Infant versus Parent”—Exploring the Paradigm of the NICU Single Room Design, explores the challenges single room neonatal intensive care units faced by owners and architects. The presentation will also reveal evidence-based design research methods of single room versus suite style design success, along with discussing staff concerns and the methods to resolve and address those issues prior to the new area occupation and immediately following. The presentation is based on the design and lessons learned in the new Dupont Hospital NICU completed by MKM earlier this year.

Ball State University students and faculty. Muncie, Indiana. December 2007.

Featured speaker at the Indiana Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (IAHSA), held in March 2008 in Indianapolis, IN.

Featured speaker for the Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (MAHSA), held in April 2008 in Kalamazoo, MI.

Ball State University Business Fellows Speaker Series.  Muncie, Indiana.  March 2008.

Keynote speaker for the 2008 Sustainability Summit for Indiana Colleges and Universities, held in April 2008 at Ball State University, Muncie, IN.

Presentation from the U.S. Green Building Council

Designing the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, a LEED registered building.