EUFAULA, Ala. (WTVM) - With the help of U.S. Senator Katie Britt, a critical access hospital was just awarded a grant for much-needed new medical equipment.
Medical Center Barbour is the only hospital in Eufaula and serves the rural areas around it.
“Rural hospitals are facing their share of problems right now,” said District 1 City Councilman Ben Garrison.
Medical Center Barbour is the only hospital in Barbour County, which has roughly 25,000 residents. Garrison said Eufaula cannot afford to lose its rural hospital.
“For a city to survive, they must have an adequate hospital or a hospital in general, and we know that,” Garrison said. “The city, the city council, and the mayor have been behind supporting this hospital.”
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The next nearest hospitals are at least 50 miles away in Dothan or Columbus. In an effort to help the hospital with new equipment, the city was awarded a $500,000 grant with the help of Alabama Senator Katie Britt. The money will go towards basic necessities of MRI equipment at the hospital.
“If you take the hospital average for the number of emergency room visits we have a month, and then divide that by the national average, we service 57,000 people at this hospital here,” Garrison added.
Garrison said the city of Eufaula has a population of 13,000 people. The rural areas around the city add to that. He’s proud of the city for being aware and meeting the needs of those residents.
“You have a county and a city that’s willing to take on the needs for 32,000 people,” he said. “You’ve got a town that’s dedicated and committed to not only serve the people in the county and city, but also those surrounding areas that use it as well.”
The councilman said he’s thankful for congressional leaders who fought to get this grant money.
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