4 hospitals transitioning to rural emergency status

Since the rural emergency hospital program went into effect earlier this year, hospitals in Texas, Mississippi, Michigan and Arkansas have taken advantage of the program. 

The program allows struggling rural hospitals to close infrequently used services and focus on emergency care.

Here are four hospitals transitioning to rural emergency status:

1. La Grange, Texas-based St. Mark's Medical Center received rural emergency designation approval to avoid closure.
   
   
2. Holly Spriggs, Miss.-based Alliance HealthCare was awarded rural emergency status after some questions if it was too close to Memphis, Tenn.
   
   
3. Sturgis (Mich.) Hospital became the first hospital in the state to transition to the new designation.
   
   
4. St. Bernards Healthcare's Five Rivers, based in Pocahontas, Ark., will become the first hospital in the state to transition to rural emergency status on Sept. 1.