Rural communities make up nearly 17% of the U.S. population, yet millions face significant healthcare gaps due to hospital closures and limited resources. These healthcare deserts leave many without reliable options for care close to home.

How do we address this growing disparity? Innovative solutions like the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) are bridging this gap. These models showcase how strategic design, community collaboration, and flexible care delivery can reduce disparities and enhance the quality of life for rural residents.

Transforming Senior Care: PACE in Action

The PACE program, exemplified by the William B. and Janet B. Schmidt PACE Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, offers an impactful model for delivering holistic senior care. Schmidt Associates partnered with Hosparus Health to repurpose a 24,000-square-foot former Coca-Cola memorabilia museum into a vibrant facility dedicated to supporting elderly adults during weekday business hours.

Key features of the facility include:

• A large day room for communal activities and socialization.
• Therapy spaces to enhance physical and mental well-being.
• A clinic for primary care services, food preparation and laundry areas, and administrative offices.

By creating a warm, welcoming environment filled with natural light and plans for an outdoor garden, this facility balances functionality with humanity. Designed to support up to 120 patients daily, the PACE Center empowers older adults to maintain their independence while receiving comprehensive care close to home.

“When our director of development brought the Schmidt Family into the facility to meet the team and hear more about PACE, they were so pleased with what Schmidt Associates did with the building and what the PACE program will provide to the community,” said Hosparus Senior Project Manager Casey Stallsmith. “Because of this, the Schmidt family made a generous donation and will have the building named after them.”

Rural Emergency Hospitals: A Flexible Approach to Healthcare Access

For broader community healthcare needs, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) offer a transformative solution. The REH designation, established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, allows rural hospitals to evolve into facilities focused on emergency and outpatient care. This innovative approach helps sustain healthcare access in areas where full-service hospitals are no longer viable.

While our team is actively exploring Rural Emergency Hospital designs, our prototype program offers adaptable solutions that meet communities’ urgent needs. This prototype focuses on flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency, ensuring that communities can adapt it to meet their specific needs.

The prototype REH program is designed to provide:

• 24/7 emergency care with observation beds.
• Space for outpatient services such as diagnostics, specialty care, and wellness programs.
• Flexible configurations for rotating specialists, including orthopedics and cardiac care.

Our conceptual designs envision a compact footprint of approximately 20,000 square feet, incorporating trauma areas, exam rooms, procedure rooms, and public spaces such as waiting and reception areas. The design also allows for optional features, including helipads and future expansion capabilities, to meet the evolving needs of rural communities.

Beyond healthcare, REHs play a significant role in rural economic development. Access to emergency services is a critical factor for attracting businesses and ensuring the well-being of employees, making these facilities invaluable to their regions.

The Value of Rural Healthcare Solutions

“At Schmidt Associates, we believe that access to healthcare is fundamental to the vitality of rural communities,” says J.R. Robertson, Principal-in-Charge. “Programs like PACE and Rural Emergency Hospitals are not just about providing care—they’re about creating lifelines that connect residents to critical services, reduce disparities, and help rural communities thrive. Designing these spaces is an honor, and we are committed to continuing to drive innovation in this space.”

Driving Innovation Through Thoughtful Design

Both PACE and REH exemplify how thoughtful design and innovative care models can address the unique challenges of rural healthcare. While the PACE Center showcases our ability to transform spaces into dynamic care environments, our REH prototype underscores our forward-thinking approach to meeting community healthcare needs.

“The physical building is what everyone sees,” Stallsmith concluded. “We cannot thank the Schmidt Associates design team, contractors, and all involved enough for being such great partners on the project, keeping the work moving forward, and being mindful of thinking and working through the extra details. When working with an architectural firm, this is an important aspect of the project’s success.”

Schmidt Associates takes pride in being part of these transformative projects, blending strategic foresight, community insight, and hands-on implementation to create impactful spaces.

Let’s Talk About Transforming Healthcare in Your Community

As healthcare landscapes evolve, so must the spaces where care is delivered. If your community is ready to innovate, Schmidt Associates is here to help. Visit our Healthcare Studio to learn more about our expertise and discover how we can help create solutions tailored to your unique needs.