A central Alabama medical center is beginning a major change in how it does business.
Regional Medical Center of Central Alabama (RMCCA) in Greenville has announced it is transitioning to a rural emergency hospital.
The center is expected to lay off about 90 employees across various departments as a result of the move.
A rural emergency hospital is a Medicare provider designation established by Congress in 2021. REHs maintain access to outpatient medical services in areas that may not be able to sustain a full-service hospital.
On Thursday, the hospital announced it will file an application with the State Health Planning and Development Agency to begin the process.
In an announcement, RMCCA said the decision “represents the hospital’s best opportunity to achieve financial stability and continue serving the healthcare needs of the Greenville community.”
CEO Patrick Trammell said the decision was not made lightly.
“As rural hospitals across the country face unprecedented financial challenges, RMCCA is taking this proactive step to preserve a needed presence in our community, and maintaining essential healthcare services for our region is paramount,” Trammell said.
The filing came after a unanimous vote by the RMCCA Board.
WSFA is reporting patients should continue coming to the facility for treatment through the end of the year and into early 2026 until the transition is complete.
Rural health care has been a hot button issue in Alabama for several years.
Earlier this year, Alabama submitted a plan to the federal government for how the state will use $500 million to improve rural health care over the next five years.
The state plans to focus on 11 initiatives to help rural facilities become more financially viable and accessible, and to improve health outcomes.
Of the state’s 52 rural hospitals, 27 are at risk of closing, with 19 of those at immediate risk of shutting down within the next few years.
RMCCA is your community healthcare provider; 72-bed facility with complete inpatient, outpatient, medical and surgical care. We strive hard to be a place of healing, caring and connection for patients and families in the community we call home.
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