Rural hospitals battling furloughs and budget shortages during COVID-19 pandemic

POTEAU, Okla. (KTUL) — COVID-19 isn’t just crippling larger hospitals in Oklahoma but jeopardizing rural hospitals across the state as they deal with major revenue losses.

There’s a clear distinction between before and after COVID-19 at Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, Okla.

“This is the nursey,” said Bob Carter, showing an empty room full of unused medical equipment.

Carter is the CEO of Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center. He said they closed the OBGYN and surgical departments after COVID-19 restrictions came down from the state.

“Things are tough in this neighborhood, they sure are,” said Carter.

Business is down 75 percent at the hospital.

“I have a hard time putting it into words how difficult it is, because the things that we’ve had to do,” said Carter.

Even after higher-ups at the hospital took pay cuts, they still had to furlough 30 percent of the staff, which is about 52 employees.

Carter said the decision was one that kept him up at night. “I’ve worked here for 26 years,” said Carter. “We don’t consider our employees ‘employees,’ but this is family.”

For Poteau, and other small communities in Oklahoma, rural hospitals are the heartbeat of the town. The hospitals help draw in new businesses, pays a lot of people good wagers, and keeps folks healthy. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, many are in jeopardy of closing.

“Are hospitals going to make it out of this- rural ones specifically?” asked Channel 8 reporter, Maureen Wurtz.

“You know, Maureen I don’t know. I think it’s all going to depend on what comes out of future stimulus packages,” said Carter.

Carter said there won’t be a future for rural hospitals if politicians don’t work together and remember it may take months-even years- for smaller hospitals to recover.

“We’re going to have to monitor the financial stability of rural hospitals all across the nation,” said Carter.

He said they’ve received some stimulus money, which was helpful but not enough. So, the future he’s hoping for is one where they will get help.