Henry County Medical Center to Host Community Forum

PARIS — Henry County Medical Center is hosting a Community Forum at the Krider Performing Arts Center, 650 Volunteer Dr, Paris, at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 22.

CEO John Tucker announced said the event starts the evening with a presentation and close with questions from members of the community.

“In light of recent discussion regarding changes of services offered at HCMC, I would like the opportunity to be transparent with the community and answer any questions they may have,” says Tucker. “I will outline current challenges and discuss sustainability plans moving forward.”

Recently, Tucker announced obstetrics services will end at the hospital later in 2023.

Calling it a very difficult discussion, Tucker said that HCMC would cease providing OB services on Sept. 1. “Despite the great care that Drs. (Pamela) Evans, (Sandra) Boxell, and (Katherine) Whitfield provide their patients at Paris Women’s Center and in our hospital, we have struggled with very low volumes for the past several months,” Tucker said.

He explained the hospital would reorganize the Paris Women’s Center to begin offering only gynecologic services while also working on expanding relationships with neighboring facilities and physicians for patients to receive obstetric care.
Seeking ways to keep the hospital financially viable has been the primary objective the last several months for Tucker and the board, he explained. “With the financial struggles that have been in place at our organization for the past several years, HCMC is on the verge of financial failure and would not be able to sustain beyond year-end had this difficult decision not been made.”
Tucker noted HCMC is not alone in ceasing service lines, as rural hospitals across the county continue to close or suspend services at a high rate. “Over half of the rural hospitals in the country have already been forced to make this decision, so while this is very unfortunate, it has become almost the rule in rural America and not the exception.”
When McKenzie Regional Hospital closed in 2018, along with it was the closure of the only obstetrics department in Carroll County.
With the soon-to-be closed Henry County Center, the closest facility are Murray, Kentucky, Martin, Jackson and Union City.