The board of Parson, Tenn.-based Decatur County General Hospital voted unanimously this week to keep the facility open, directly opposing county officials' vote to shut it down, according to The Jackson Sun.
Decatur County officials voted to close the rural 40-bed facility March 5, citing years of financial woes and declining admissions.
But the hospital board voted to keep the facility open, since it is the only emergency health facility in the rural county, according to the report.
The hospital board has authority over Decatur County General, but the county controls the taxpayer money that funds the facility.
Decatur County General is about $3 million in debt and it struggles to meet payroll, according to the report. As a result of its financial problems, 20 staff members recently left or reduced their hours.
"The whole thing is a safety issue: an overworked, understaffed hospital," Decatur County Commissioner Anthony Alexander told The Sun. "We've got the best people. They're staying until the bitter end, but there's been so many people that have left. I don't think they can function safely."