Inside a North Dakota Hospital's Fight to Survive with Immigrant Staff

CNN's Ed Lavandera and his team spent 30 days inside West River hospital in Hettinger, North Dakota, a small-town facility struggling to stay afloat. More than 13 percent of their full-time staff are immigrants who moved from other countries to take jobs that, in some cases, had been left open for years. The hospital relies heavily on these workers to provide essential care to the community. The documentary explores the challenges facing rural hospitals, including financial pressures, staff shortages, and the vital role of immigrant workers. It also examines the political and social dynamics surrounding immigration in a deeply red state. The hospital's survival may depend on its ability to attract and retain foreign-born staff. Watch the full documentary, 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: 30 Days Inside: Hospitals and the Immigrant Workforce,' on Sunday, October 4 at 8pm ET and streaming on CNN apps on Monday, October 5. This is a revealing look at a critical issue in American healthcare.