A Rural Hospital’s Excruciating Choice: $3.2 Million a Year or Inpatient Care?

During Covid surges, Dr. Katie Camarata, the physician who cared for Ms. Wenrich, stayed up overnight with critically ill patients, calling hospital systems in surrounding states. All seven refused the transfers. Eventually, the Cascade staff created their own negative-pressure rooms so it could keep highly infectious patients in-house without infecting others. Providing inpatient care “comes…