The Healthcare Authority of Elba, Alabama announced Jan. 29 that Elba General Hospital would be closing and ceasing all operations as of Feb. 4, 2013.
According to Hospital Administrator Mike Dooley, the closure could result in the elimination of nearly all the positions at Elba General Hospital, which currently employs 45 people.
“We won’t know exactly how many (jobs will be eliminated) until we get responses back from each of the department supervisors,” Dooley said.
The emergency room will cease operations Jan. 31, and the facility will permanently close at the end of business hours on Feb. 4.
The hospital has been plagued with financial troubles in recent years, laying off 11 employees in 2011.
Dooley said lack of census and mounting losses on the hospital side of operations have led to the permanent closure.
“Our cash flow is not sufficient enough to keep the doors open,” Dooley said. “It’s a loss for the community.”
According to Dooley, patients still at the hospital on Feb. 4 will be transferred to other area facilities.
If patients are unable to be transferred before that date, the hospital will close down all services once those patients have left the hospital’s care.
“I’m sure the City of Elba and the hospital board would rather keep (Elba General) open, but at this point in time that just doesn’t seem possible,” Dooley said.
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