Rural Healthcare Saves Lives and Benefits Communities
11/20/2025
Kirksville, MO (November 20, 2025) - November 20 is National Rural Health Day. Rural hospitals like Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC) provide essential services that promote community health.
“Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and their health is vital to our collective future,” said NRMC's chief executive officer Patrick Avila. “We are proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the commitment our local healthcare providers make to this community every day.”
For local resident Cheryl Mueller, having a rural option like NRMC meant the difference between life and death this past June. “It was a normal day and I felt fine,” stated Mueller. That night Mueller developed severe gastrointestinal pain and was transported by ambulance to NRMC.
When Mueller arrived at NRMC she was taken to surgery where Dr. Steven Lyons, board-certified general surgeon and member of the medical staff at NRMC, discovered that she was suffering from a small bowel obstruction with infection. Mueller’s recovery included multiple surgical interventions and a 10-day stay in the critical care unit.
Dr. Lyons, along with many other local physicians, grew up in Northeast Missouri or other rural areas. Having highly trained physicians who chose to practice in rural America is key to keeping healthcare local and accessible in smaller communities like Kirksville.
“I have nothing but praise for this place,” said Mueller. “Everyone was compassionate and took great care of me. We are so lucky to have physicians like Dr. Lyons in Kirksville. I want people to know that you don’t have to travel long distances to get quality care, it’s already right here. I can honestly say that NRMC saved my life. I would not have made it to another facility, even if they had flown me.”
Rural hospitals like NRMC do more than provide critical medical care for the community. They are a source of local jobs, they contribute taxes which help keep local economies running, and they reduce the time and cost of seeking healthcare treatment by providing care locally.
In 2024, NRMC provided $12.7 million in uncompensated care to local patients who were underinsured or had no insurance at all. They also paid nearly $28 million in payroll and $3.7 million in taxes which stimulated the local economy.
“We are invested in this community and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals” states Avila. “The goal is to keep healthcare local so that friends, family and neighbors can care for each other and for Northeast Missouri.”
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