Lawrence Medical Center forced to consider do or die decisions

MOULTON, Ala. ( WHNT ) — The Lawrence Medical Center held a meeting tonight, discussing what the future could look like while in the midst of a financial crisis.

Lawmakers at the meeting shared that the hospital was denied Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status at the federal level. This status would have allowed the hospital to keep its outpatient and emergency services open. The status would have also made the hospital close all inpatient services, and would not be able to treat a patient longer than 23 consistent hours.

The hospital is pleading for community members to utilize its services, allowing for a deeper revenue stream to go to the hospital.

“We have people coming from anywhere and everywhere that, you know, this is their only means for care,” Emergency Room Nurse Allie Lynch said. “If they would’ve had to travel 20 minutes down the road, you never know what could’ve happened in those 20 minutes. Just the amount of people who walk through those doors in critical situations, it’s critical to have us here.”

A former patient thanked Lynch for saving her life, sparking an emotional moment full of hugs and tears.

Hospital officials are meeting with county commissioners on Tuesday morning to discuss the next steps. They are hoping to reapply for REH status, this time at the state level in hopes it helps persuade the hospital’s REH approval federally.

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