Harlan County Health System

What Harlan County Health System does

Harlan County Health System (HCHS) is a non-profit, 19-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Alma, Nebraska, serving the rural residents of Harlan County and adjacent counties in Nebraska and Kansas. The organization operates a vertically integrated delivery network comprising the main hospital, the Heartland Family Medicine primary care clinic (opened March 2019 in the Dr. James S. Long Family Medical Building with extended Monday hours of 8 AM to 7 PM), and the Senior Life Solutions intensive outpatient mental health program for adults aged 65 and older, operated in partnership with Psychiatric Medical Care. Service breadth spans 24/7 emergency care, inpatient, outpatient, and surgical services, supported by on-site radiology (CT, 3D mammography, EKG, X-ray), a clinical laboratory featuring a Cepheid rapid testing system and a state-of-the-art chemistry analyzer, a pharmacy with 24-hour pharmacist access via the ePharmacy program funded by a $165,875 Helmsley Charitable Trust grant, physical/occupational/speech therapy (including LSVT BIG for Parkinson's), cardiac rehabilitation, an ACHC-accredited sleep lab, women's health, pain management, and skilled nursing/swing bed services. Telemedicine offerings in telestroke, acute neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, and outpatient dermatology are delivered through partnerships with Teledigm Health and Bryan Telemedicine, supplemented by visiting specialists from Platte Valley Medical Group, Kearney Regional Medical Center, and other regional providers.

Revenue is generated through standard fee-for-service healthcare billing to patients and third-party payers including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance; HCHS benefits from the Critical Access Hospital enhanced Medicare reimbursement formula (101% of reasonable costs). The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees led by Chairman Bruce Beins, with permanent CEO Dr. Patrick A. Auman, Ph.D. (appointed 2020, 29+ years of hospital executive experience), CNO/COO Stacy Neubauer, RN, and a newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dreher (effective January 2026, succeeding founding CMO Dr. Mike Finkner). Headcount is reported in the 101–250 range. The facility was originally built in 1971 and has undergone continuous modernization, including a new HVAC system with negative pressure isolation rooms (2021), facility-wide Hill-Rom bed replacement (2021), an integrated nurse call light system and digital patient message boards (2025), and laboratory equipment refreshes (2021, 2025).

Most recently, HCHS joined the Nebraska High Value Network in June 2025 — a clinically integrated network of 19 critical-access hospitals across Nebraska serving nearly 300,000 patients and managed by Cibolo Health — and earned the 2025 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality (top quartile) from the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The HCHS Foundation supports capital campaigns and equipment funding through community fundraising events.

Name

Harlan County Health System

Legal name

Harlan County Health System

Website

https://harlancountyhealth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Harlan County Health System is a non-profit 19-bed Critical Access Hospital in Alma, Nebraska, providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, primary care, and specialty healthcare services to rural residents of Harlan County and adjacent Nebraska/Kansas counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Critical Access Hospital Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ)

Keywords

• Critical access hospital
• Rural healthcare services
• Primary care clinic
• Emergency medical services
• Rehabilitation therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Patient Care Services: HCHS operates a 19-bed Critical Access Hospital in Alma, Nebraska providing emergency, outpatient, inpatient, specialty clinic and surgical services. Revenue is generated through standard healthcare service billing to patients and insurance providers including Medicare and Medicaid, which have favorable reimbursement rates for Critical Access Hospitals.
2. Rural Health Clinic Services: Heartland Family Medicine provides day-to-day medical care for patients of all ages from throughout the area, generating revenue through standard clinic visit billing and insurance reimbursement.
3. Visiting Specialist Services: Cardiology, orthopedic, pulmonology, podiatry, and other specialty services provided through visiting specialists traveling to HCHS regularly.
4. Telemedicine Services: Remote specialty consultations including telestroke, acute neurology, pulmonology, and cardiology services provided through partnerships with Teledigm Health and Bryan Telemedicine.
5. Swing Bed/Skilled Nursing: Skilled nursing services for patients requiring extended care following hospitalization.
6. Senior Life Solutions Mental Health Program: Intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors, operated in partnership with Psychiatric Medical Care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harlan County Health System is a 19-bed Critical Access Hospital in Alma, Nebraska providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, and specialty clinic services to residents of Harlan County and adjacent counties in Nebraska and Kansas. The system also operates Heartland Family Medicine primary care clinic, Senior Life Solutions outpatient mental health program for seniors, and an array of visiting specialty services plus telemedicine consultations delivered through partnerships with Teledigm Health and Bryan Telemedicine.

Product overview

Harlan County Health System is a 19-bed Critical Access Hospital in Alma, Nebraska, operating as a unified health system with a hospital, primary care clinic, and multiple specialty services. The core offerings include the Critical Access Hospital providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and surgical services; Heartland Family Medicine clinic for primary care; and visiting specialist services. The system integrates telemedicine capabilities (telestroke, neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, dermatology) through Teledigm/Bryan Telemedicine partnership. Supporting services include radiology (CT, 3D mammography, X-ray), laboratory with rapid Cepheid testing, pharmacy with 24-hour ePharmacy access, rehabilitation therapy (physical, occupational, speech including LSVT BIG), cardiac rehabilitation, sleep lab, mental health services including Senior Life Solutions, swing bed/skilled nursing, women's health, pain management, and public transportation. The system participates in the Nebraska High Value Network clinically integrated network with 18 other critical-access hospitals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heartland Family Medicine: Family medicine clinic providing primary care for patients of all ages
• Senior Life Solutions

Products and services

• Critical Access Hospital Services 19-bed Critical Access Hospital in Alma, Nebraska providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and surgical services serving Harlan and adjacent counties in Nebraska and Kansas.
• Heartland Family Medicine (Primary Care Clinic) Family medicine clinic providing complete care for patients of all ages with extended Monday hours (8 AM-7 PM) at Alma location.
• Emergency Department 24-hour emergency department services staffed and ready at all times.
• Radiology Services State-of-the-art radiology equipment with registered radiologic technologists offering CT, 3D Mammography, EKG, and X-Ray services on site.
• Laboratory Services Comprehensive laboratory testing including chemistry analysis, rapid Cepheid testing, and high sensitivity troponin for cardiac event detection.
• Pharmacy Services Hospital pharmacy with 24-hour access to pharmacy specialists through ePharmacy program, connecting local physicians with pharmacists for prescription review.
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Rehabilitation services with therapists trained in all areas of rehab including LSVT BIG therapy for Parkinson's Disease, concussion testing, and sports injury recovery.
• Telemedicine Services Telemedicine services including Telestroke/Acute Neurology, Acute Pulmonology, Acute Cardiology, and Outpatient Dermatology, provided through partnership with Teledigm Health and Bryan Telemedicine.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Customized outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program including exercise, counseling, and education designed to improve cardiovascular health.
• Senior Life Solutions (Outpatient Mental Health) Intensive outpatient group therapy program designed for adults over 65 struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety related to aging, operated through partnership with Psychiatric Medical Care.
• Sleep Lab Accredited sleep study and polysomnography testing performed in-house using qualified sleep rooms and sleep technologists, accredited by ACHC.
• Swing Bed / Skilled Nursing Swing bed program providing skilled nursing care for patients requiring extended recovery time after hospitalization.
• Women's Health Services Women's health services including obstetrics and gynecological care.
• Pain Management Pain management services for patients with chronic or acute pain conditions.
• Operating Room / Surgical Services Surgical services with experienced surgical team providing wide range of procedures with focus on safety and compassionate care.
• Visiting Specialists Program Outpatient clinic services bringing visiting specialists including cardiologists, orthopedists, pulmonologists, and podiatrists to the community.
• Harlan County Public Transportation Public transportation services to help residents access healthcare services.
• Online Patient Portal Online patient portal for accessing health records, messaging providers, and managing appointments.
• Mental Health Services Mental health care services including clinic-based providers and Senior Life Solutions program for older adults.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 Performance Leadership Award - Top quartile (75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals for Quality
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nebraska High Value Network (NHVN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Clinically integrated network of 19 critical-access hospitals across Nebraska working together to strengthen rural healthcare. Cornerstone CIN caring for nearly 300,000 patients. Collaborates on clinical initiatives, business initiatives, quality measures, and value-based care arrangements. Managed by Cibolo Health.
• Teledigm Health / Bryan TelemedicinecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2021Partnership to provide telemedicine services including telestroke/acute neurology, acute pulmonology, acute cardiology, and outpatient dermatology. Specialists are available directly in patient rooms for diagnosis and treatment, providing state-of-the-art care comparable to larger cities.
• Platte Valley Medical GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Dr. Jason Walsh, MD, FACS, CWS provides general surgery services and performs scopes at HCHS monthly.
• Platte Valley Medical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Dr. David Cantral, Pulmonologist from Platte Valley Medical Clinic in Kearney, provides pulmonology services at HCHS on second Thursday of every month.
• Kearney Regional Medical Center (KRMC)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2020IT services partnership where KRMC's Director of IT Jerry Waddel and team provide all HCHS IT needs, available 24/7 with in-house visits when needed. First IT partnership for KRMC.
• Studer GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2020Healthcare advisory firm partnership to help HCHS develop strategies and solutions for organizational improvement and goal achievement.
• Senior Life Solutions / Psychiatric Medical CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Partnership to provide intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors 65+ struggling with depression and anxiety. Program includes board-certified psychiatrist, licensed social workers, registered nurse, and dedicated mental health professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boone County Health Center: Critical Access Hospital in Albion, Nebraska and fellow Nebraska High Value Network member. Comparable in bed count, rural Nebraska footprint, CAH reimbursement model, and membership in the same clinically integrated network, making it a direct peer in both operations and strategic context.
• Fillmore County Hospital: Critical Access Hospital in Geneva, Nebraska and NHVN member. Closely mirrors HCHS in size, Nebraska CAH status, rural county service area, and network participation, serving as an apples-to-apples operational peer.
• Thayer County Health Services: Critical Access Hospital in Hebron, Nebraska, also part of the Nebraska High Value Network. Comparable rural Nebraska CAH with similar service-line breadth (clinic, ER, swing bed) and NHVN-driven value-based care participation.
• Brodstone Memorial Hospital: Critical Access Hospital in Superior, Nebraska. Comparable in bed count, rural south-central Nebraska footprint, non-profit structure, and primary-care-plus-specialty service model.
• Henderson Health Care Services: Critical Access Hospital in Henderson, Nebraska operating hospital, clinic, and skilled nursing services. Direct peer in rural Nebraska CAH operations with similar swing-bed and primary-care service mix.
• Kearney Regional Medical Center: Independent acute-care hospital in Kearney, Nebraska and HCHS's IT partner since October 2020. Larger and more specialized than HCHS, but a natural peer given shared Nebraska rural/regional market, the active operational partnership, and the IT-services relationship.
• Regional West Health Services: Regional referral hospital system in Scottsbluff, Nebraska serving western Nebraska rural communities. Comparable mission (rural healthcare access) and geographic reach, but at significantly larger scale, making it a strategic reference point rather than direct competition.

Broad incumbents

• CHI Health: Large Nebraska-based Catholic health system operating multiple hospitals across the state, including sites near HCHS's service area. Operates at substantially larger scale and offers overlapping services (emergency, primary care, specialty), representing the dominant incumbent that rural patients are referred up to.
• Bryan Health: Major Nebraska health system headquartered in Lincoln and partner in Bryan Telemedicine that provides HCHS's specialty telemedicine services. Larger and broader portfolio, but a strategically relevant counterparty for both referrals and telemedicine-supported specialty care.
• LifePoint Health: National operator of community hospitals, critical access hospitals, and regional healthcare facilities across non-urban America. Provides a relevant operator-scale benchmark for rural hospital strategy, network participation, and capital allocation patterns.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/harlancohealth
• Xx.com/harlancohealth

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harlan County Health System