Fulton (Mo.) Medical Center, the only hospital in its county, is set to close Sept. 22, which has caused the local ambulance district to make changes to ensure patients receive the care they need, according to KBIA.
The hospital's 158 employees were notified of the closure plans in July. At that time, Fulton Medical Center's owner, Leawood, Kan.-based NueHealth, told Becker's Hospital Review the 37-bed hospital was closing due to low patient volumes, a plant in need of extensive repairs and denial for a certificate of need by the state for an expansion project.
After Fulton Medical Center shuts down, local residents will be taken to hospitals in Jefferson City or Columbia, Mo., which are each about 25 miles away. To ensure the safety of local residents once the hospital closes, Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton said the Callaway County Ambulance District is doubling shifts from 12 hours to 24, according to the report.
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