McKENZIE, Tenn. – McKenzie Regional Hospital (MRH) will discontinue patient services, including the emergency department, by September 15, 2018. The 45-bed hospital has notified the Tennessee Department of Health of its planned closure.
An asset purchase agreement was signed with Baptist Memorial Health Care, which operates Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County, to purchase the assets of MRH including the hospital’s real property and ambulance service. Baptist intends to operate the outpatient diagnostic imaging center and sleep center located inside McKenzie Medical Center. Baptist plans to transition ambulance services to Priority Ambulance, its contract service partner. An ambulance base and helipad will remain in McKenzie.
Baptist will not operate a hospital in McKenzie and Baptist-Carroll County is now the lone hospital in the county.
Baptist did not close the hospital. It is purchasing the real and personal assets and equipment from the hospital after it announced it was closing.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon recently changed its name to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County to better reflect its new enlarged service area.
MRH leadership has worked staff and physicians to discuss transition plans with the roughly 200 employees who are affected. Employees will continue to receive pay and benefits through September 29.
“It has been our privilege to care for this community and we are extremely grateful to our dedicated team of employees, nurses, physicians, volunteers and board members for their tireless service to our patients and their families,” said Mike Morrical, CEO. “Most of all, we are grateful to our neighbors and friends for allowing us to serve as your trusted health care resource for more than 40 years.”
