By Leanne Cloudman

Staff reporter

lcloudman@yadkinripple.com

While other hospitals in the area are expanding, Yadkin County officials are examining options on how to best continue operations at Hoots Memorial Hospital.

North Carolina Baptist Hospital has been managing Hoots Memorial through a contract with Yadkin County since 1994, according to county manager Stan Kiser. Baptist notified Yadkin County that they do not intend to continue this arrangement. Their contract ends in March and responsibility for the hospital will revert to the county.

Financial reports for Hoots reflect the dire financial condition the hospital has been operating under. Due to rising costs of providing medical care and competition with other hospitals, the county had to help pay for losses.

An independent auditor was hired by the county to review financials and provide a summary of the financial status of the hospital. Commissioners will be able to review this information to assist them in the decision-making process.

Hoots Memorial Hospital is a 22-bed critical access hospital. The hospital employs 177 people and according to hospital administration, the number of patients being treated has approximately doubled in the last three years.

A report issued by the American Hospital Association last Thursday cited hospitals as the second largest source of private sector jobs. In North Carolina, more than 160,000 people are employed by hospitals statewide.

All of the commissioners expressed concern about the expiring lease at the Jan. 20 commissioners meeting and all agreed that the hospital is important to the area. The commissioners agree the services Hoots provides are needed here.

An emergency meeting of the county commissioners regarding the future of the hospital was scheduled for Jan. 28.