Hutcheson Medical Center Ordered to Shut Down

Fort Oglethorpe, GA (WDEF) – After months of trying to save Hutcheson Medical Center, Walker County Attorney Don Oliver says Hutcheson Medical Center is officially shutting down.

Friday morning, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Paul Bonapfel made the final decision during a hearing to close the hospital’s main campus, outpatient services and cancer center within the next 90 days. The decision was made because the hospital wasn’t making enough money to support itself, after the number of patients dramatically dropped over time.

Jerry Hines worked in Hutcheson’s ICU for 15 years, only to come to work one day to discover his time was up, "They came in at 5 o’clock on a Thursday afternoon, and said we’re moving these patients out and you’re unemployed at 7 o’clock at shift change. That’s how they handled it."

Hutcheson let go 58 people back in September, and nearly 70 more this month, "I mean, when you only have 10 beds open, you’re not meeting the needs of the community," said Hines, "Even though you’re open technically you’re not meeting the needs."

Donna Bramblett has been waiting months for the back surgery she desperately needs, and now says she doesn’t know when she’ll be able to get it, "They won’t even give you your medical records. I’ve been here since 2:45 today, and it’s an act of congress just to get the medical records to where I can maybe have my surgery."

Hutcheson will be allowed to auction off Parkside Nursing Home, but the future of the hospital building is still uncertain.