News this month has been about changes at our hospital and how it will affect Clarksdale and Coahoma County.
Change is always news but change is not always easy.
The bankruptcy of Curae in 2018 sent a shiver down the back of this community. Doctors, nurses, medical technicians and staff were even led to believe they might not get paid.
Healthcare was once the Number Two employer in this county, providing 1,540 jobs in 2019. And while we all know that number has changed drastically over the past four years, healthcare is still a critical industry in Coahoma County.
It has been estimated that almost half of the state’s rural hospitals are at risk of closing or at least not profitable.
It would be easy to talk federal healthcare programs and the state turning down Medicaid expansion. We will just say rural healthcare in this country is changing and our national leaders need to vigilant and our community needs to support our hospital.
Your Clarksdale Press Register believes we have people who are watching and working to keep our hospital viable.
When payroll got tight three years ago, Coahoma County stepped in and with a rainy-day fund of more than $30 million earmarked for healthcare in this community, tided our hospital over until a new agreement could be signed.
It is obvious past leaders had a vision for guarding our hospital and made plans to ensure a hospital would be available to this community. It was a wise business decision.
Now it is up to the community to do their part and do business with our hospital.
We urge those in need of healthcare to shop Clarksdale first. Sure, if you need a specialist in Memphis or Oxford, go and get well. But please consider local doctors and our local hospital first.
Healthcare in Coahoma County has come a long way over the past four years. Many things have changed and this newspaper would like to focus on a future that looks so much better.
This community must support and use local healthcare providers and our hospital.
