FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 10/22/2009) THE MED's Emergency Room faces a virtual shutdown in a matter of months sends a medical shock.
But MED officials say they aren't crying wolf.
"We are down to two days of cash on hand for operations." says Gene Holcomb, Chairman of THE MED's Board of Directors.
By February the number of emergency beds may go from 26 to 7.
Now we have learned, by 2011 the Trauma Center could also be hit because of further state funding cuts.
"Come July 1st, we are likely to get more cuts in Medicare or other state funding," says Holcomb.
The Med says Arkansas and Mississippi haven't paid millions they owe THE MED for treating out-of-state patients.
Helen Thompson's brother who lives in Mississippi has been in the Med since September 4th with a spine injury.
"They couldn't do it down there. The service he had to have they could only do it here," says Helen Thompson.
THE MED wants the state and county to help.
On Live at Nine, Shelby County Commissioner Chair Joyce Avery said help is coming.
"We will take a look at how we can help, be it through legislation, a fee for the Med." says Avery.
By phone, State Representative G.A. Hardaway says lawmakers also have a plan.
"We'll be able to come in and offer a bond issue for the Med to do the capital improvements and that will allow them to bring in more revenue," says Hardaway.
Helen Thompson hopes that help comes quickly.
"A lot of people wouldn't make it. They really wouldn't make it if not for this place here," says Thompson.
If THE MED does cut it's emergency department, officials tell us it won't mean layoffs for employees. They say attrition will help avoid that. But again they are hoping it never comes to those cuts.
- MED announces it may have to virtually shutdown its Emergency Department
- State and County leaders look for ways to help the financially strapped hospital
- Med officials say the Emergency Department may just be the beginning
(Memphis 10/22/2009) THE MED's Emergency Room faces a virtual shutdown in a matter of months sends a medical shock.
But MED officials say they aren't crying wolf.
"We are down to two days of cash on hand for operations." says Gene Holcomb, Chairman of THE MED's Board of Directors.
By February the number of emergency beds may go from 26 to 7.
Now we have learned, by 2011 the Trauma Center could also be hit because of further state funding cuts.
"Come July 1st, we are likely to get more cuts in Medicare or other state funding," says Holcomb.
The Med says Arkansas and Mississippi haven't paid millions they owe THE MED for treating out-of-state patients.
Helen Thompson's brother who lives in Mississippi has been in the Med since September 4th with a spine injury.
"They couldn't do it down there. The service he had to have they could only do it here," says Helen Thompson.
THE MED wants the state and county to help.
On Live at Nine, Shelby County Commissioner Chair Joyce Avery said help is coming.
"We will take a look at how we can help, be it through legislation, a fee for the Med." says Avery.
By phone, State Representative G.A. Hardaway says lawmakers also have a plan.
"We'll be able to come in and offer a bond issue for the Med to do the capital improvements and that will allow them to bring in more revenue," says Hardaway.
Helen Thompson hopes that help comes quickly.
"A lot of people wouldn't make it. They really wouldn't make it if not for this place here," says Thompson.
If THE MED does cut it's emergency department, officials tell us it won't mean layoffs for employees. They say attrition will help avoid that. But again they are hoping it never comes to those cuts.
