LUVERNE, Ala. (WSFA) – Crenshaw Community Hospital is entering a new chapter under the ownership of Frey Medical Management, a company founded by Michael and Natalie Frey with a mission to revitalize rural healthcare facilities across Alabama.
The takeover comes at a critical time for rural hospitals nationwide. Since 2011, seven rural hospitals have closed in Alabama alone, and approximately half of the state’s remaining rural hospitals are at risk of closure, according to the Alabama Hospital Association.
“We’ve done a lot of due diligence on these hospitals to understand where the inefficiencies are and where the areas are that can be ramped up and better served,” Michael Frey said.
Rather than adopting a corporate model, the Freys said they are committed to maintaining a hometown feel at the hospital while implementing operational improvements.
“We would much rather take a different approach than most and try to keep it less corporate and more hometown feel,” Frey said.
The new ownership team plans to expand services and address a critical barrier to healthcare access in rural communities: transportation. By bringing specialized services directly to Luverne, the Freys aim to reduce the need for residents to travel to larger medical centers.
Among the services slated for expansion or introduction are an infusion clinic, a diabetic clinic, dialysis services, and expanded psychiatric services.
“For local residents in these small communities, sometimes transportation is the biggest issue that they face,” Frey said. “So if we’re able to alleviate them having to travel and bring those services here, we have a huge psychiatric piece that’s a big part of our platform that we really plan on pushing forward in a big way.”
The Freys recognize that community trust is essential to the success of rural healthcare facilities. When residents feel confident in their local hospital, they say they are more likely to seek care locally rather than traveling to larger hospitals in other regions.
“When you have confidence in your local hospital, they’re not going to bypass you and go to one of the bigger outfits,” Frey said. “Getting appropriate healthcare shouldn’t be a hassle for anybody.”
This year, Frey Medical Management plans to introduce new specialties and expand both inpatient and outpatient clinic services at Crenshaw Community Hospital. The company is also working to expand its footprint in central Alabama.
In November, Regional Medical Center of Central Alabama in Greenville transitioned to a rural emergency hospital, cutting 90 positions and ending inpatient services. Under a new agreement with Frey Medical Management, the facility will revert to full-service hospital status, bringing back essential healthcare services to the Greenville community.
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