Ascension Seton Smithville Celebrates Critical Access Hospital Status with Community-Wide Celebration

Ascension Seton Smithville today announced it has officially received Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a significant achievement that will strengthen the hospital's ability to provide essential, high-quality care to the residents of Smithville and surrounding rural communities. To celebrate the achievement, the hospital held a community-wide celebration that included residents, physicians, hospital staff, local elected officials and community leaders.

"Achieving CAH status is a testament to the dedication of our entire staff and our commitment to the health and well-being of this community," said Steven Brockman-Weber, President, Ascension Seton Smithville. "We are honored to achieve this designation, which ensures our ability to offer necessary, immediate, and high-quality care in Smithville and for the greater Bastrop County area for years to come."

The CAH designation is part of a federal program designed to keep essential services in rural areas by providing enhanced Medicare reimbursement. This status helps smaller, rural hospitals improve their financial stability and maintain services that might otherwise be at risk.

To qualify for CAH designation, Ascension Seton Smithville met several comprehensive requirements, including being located in a rural area, maintaining a maximum of 25 inpatient beds, having an average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute care, and providing 24/7 emergency care.

Located 13 miles east of Bastrop, Texas, Ascension Seton Smithville provides 24/7 emergency care, inpatient and outpatient acute care services, including surgical and medical procedures to the residents of Bastrop County and our neighboring communities including La Grange and Giddings. Our hospital and medical care teams have the experience and technology to provide the medical care you need, closer to home. Our general surgeons are skilled in a full range of surgical procedures, including minimally invasive techniques. Our facility has been designed to offer a comforting environment for all of our patients, young and old. When you enter our hospital, whether you are undergoing surgery or simply visiting a friend, we hope you feel at home.