Pickens County Medical Center in Carrollton, Ala., is facing financial challenges and could be forced to close, according to TV station CBS 42.
Hospital Board Chairman Shawn McDaniel told CBS 42 that the 56-bed hospital's financial struggles are partially attributable to having fewer local physicians available to treat patients.
"At one time we had nine primary attending physicians in the county, and now we only have four," he told CBS 42. "And so with the lack of doctors, it's a lack of patients that are getting the chance to be seen everyday, and that creates a problem."
Mr. McDaniel said the board is doing everything it can to keep the hospital open.
If Pickens County Medical Center closes, it would be the second rural hospital in Alabama to close this year. Growing costs and reimbursement cuts forced Georgiana (Ala.) Medical Center to close March 8.
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