A letter written by the Pemiscot County Health Systems Board of Directors has raised questions among county residents about the hospital’s future. The letter states the hospital is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, and without immediate support, the facility may close its doors.
The letter, dated May 13, says the Board is working to secure interim funding, and the Missouri General Assembly has awarded $30-million for the construction of a Rural Emergency Hospital in the county. What does that mean for the current facility? The letter doesn’t say. We’ve reached out to State Senator Jason Bean, and he will visit with me about that today.
According to the letter, to receive that state money and complete a transition to a REH, the existing hospital must remain operational. They are working to secure bridge funding, including private donations, to keep the hospital going.
The letter closes with a plea for tax deductible donations. The letter doesn’t state how much money the Board hopes to raise.
We’ll have more on this story as we get more details.