Community concerned about healthcare after medical center closes

POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Remaining Copper Basin Medical Center employees will all be terminated on Friday, but there will be another healthcare option coming soon to the area.

Outside Copper Basin Medical Center it is pretty deserted, inside medical equipment is wrapped, and supplies are boxed away. The facility was closed on October 1st.

“This was due to continual financial strain on the facility to not have the ability to sustain either the employees or the facility. This happened over a long period of time, years,” said Dan Johnson, Copper Basin Medical Center CEO.

The future is unclear.

“We have talked to a larger healthcare system and there may be a possibility of them having a presence in the community. We do not know specifics about that at this time or if that will become a possibility,” Johnson said.

There are 11 employees still working, but everyone will be terminated on Friday. Some employees will move to Masingale Family Practice that is opening up next door in November.

“They will specialize primarily in pediatrics, but they will serve all ages and that is a plus for the community to have that. There has been a severe lack of pediatric care in Copper Hill for quite a longtime,” Johnson said.

Stephanie Deal, who is a nurse and will move over to work at the family practice, says she is relieved residents will have this option.

“They were worried about medical care and treatment so now we can bring that to them,” Deal said.

But for people who need serious surgeries, there will be a travel time.

“Emergency care is a big factor here because we don’t have that anymore, especially since the ER is shutdown,” Deal said.

While there are no set plans, on what to do with the building, people are optimistic.

“We certainly hope there is a future in the community. There is a need for some form of healthcare.”

Commissioners met Thursday night at the Copper Basin Community Center for a hospital committee meeting where they discussed the future of the medical center.