A 911 Healthcare Crisis: How to Save a Rural Hospital from Closing

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Our hospital is closing.”

Words that hundreds of rural facilities today fear, but never hope to hear.

What does it take to save a community hospital tasked with the care of 4000 plus people? Funding and operational support from outside investors? Dedicated hospital staff? Unconditional support from city officials and government representatives? Outpourings of love, support, and hope from a tightly-knit community? A Christmas miracle?

As seen through the lens of Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, AL—a rural hospital facing closure; a small-town facing devastation—it takes a little bit of everything, and a whole lot of care and commitment.