Stephens County Hospital Makes Request to County

Representatives of Stephens County Hospital spoke at the end of the Stephens County Commission meeting.

Hospital board chair Mark Wilkinson asked the commissioners how much, if any, that the county intended to commit to the hospital. “I do think I speak for everyone in the room here tonight. We do know what rural healthcare has gone through in the state and across the country over the years. We are at a critical time at Stephens County Hospital. It’s not over with yet. We have heard rumors that the hospital is going to shut down. We have no plans to shut the hospital down, not yet, but we are looking at all options. We do need for you to look seriously as the Board of Commissioners in Stephens County what do you want for health care in Stephens County? What we need to know, and we will be together Monday for the regular meeting at the hospital, what are you willing to do?”

Stephens County Commission Chair Michelle Ivester asked what was the hospital asking. “What exactly are you asking us for? Are you wanting us to take a formal vote before Monday?” Wilkinson responded “We have mentioned a 6-million dollar line of credit. That may be out of the question. It is whatever you are willing to do and how much the hospital means to this community. We are talking about a one hundred million dollar economic impact on the community, and what it means to our community when you are saving lives. I would just ask look at the line items of your budget. I know that you got some Covid relief money, what are you going to do with that?”

Ivester recommended that the county and hospital host a town hall to allow the citizens input and questions. “If we need to take this to a formal vote which looks like we will need to in a week or so, you know we are asking the citizens for a lot of money, and this is their money, this isn’t my money, our money, this is their money. I think they need to be at the table. I think it is very important that we let them have time to ask questions, because many of them do have questions. They have asked us some questions, I don’t have the answer to those, so if we are putting this to a formal vote, I would like to have some sort of Town Hall with us and your board together to where the public can ask questions.”

WNEG will provide a date, time, and location of the Town Hall meeting when made available.