CELINA, Tenn. (WTVF) — Cumberland River Hospital in Clay County has closed temporarily as of Friday at noon. The owner of the hospital says there is currently no time frame for reopening.
"Due to unprecedented circumstances of unexpected non-reimbursements for provided services as well as severe staffing shortages, secondary to the Coronavirus pandemic," said Cumberland River Hospital Owner and CEO Johnny Presley, "We are forced with an ill reality of a temporary hospital closure and placing our license in a temporary inactive status."
Currently, the Emergency Department services are open. This includes laboratory and imaging services.
No observation or inpatients are currently admitted to the hospital's medical unit, and nobody is admitted to the swing or geriatric psych units.
Presley adds the Cumberland River Hospital has been unable to secure financial funding or grants from the state.
Local EMS has also diverting a majority of the hospital's transports to facilities outside of Clay County. This contributed to revenue loss.
"A time frame cannot be adequately assessed for reopening at this time as we are unable to predict when financial funding will be secured and reimbursements collected," Presley said.
Presley hopes the closure is a temporary solution to what he calls an unexpected and swift turn of events for Cumberland River Hospital.
"If there are any opportunities for the state to provide financial assistance in the form of grants, until further funding becomes available," Presley said, "We would be willing to reassess our ability to stay open during this pandemic."
This is not the first time Cumberland River Hospital has struggled with staying open.
