Nurses in Scott County say the process to shut down the county's only hospital is underway.
Nurses Jamie Hill and Stasha Strunk will soon be looking for new jobs
Nurses in Scott County say the process to shut down the county's only hospital is underway.
Health Management Associates plans to close the hospital in Oneida on Wednesday night after it couldn't reach an agreement to extend its contract with the county.
No more patients are currently being admitted beyond the emergency room, and the hospital is practicing what they call "treat and transfer" where they send patients to other locations.
Starting Monday, the hospital no longer will provide labor and delivery services, and by Wednesday at noon, no more emergency medical care will be offered before the doors close at midnight.
With just five days until the hospital's doors are expected to close, employees are still digesting the news.
"It was a surprise to us. We were told it would pan out until last week we heard that was not going to happen," said hospital nurse Jamie Hill.
She and other nurses at the hospital will soon join more than 200 others looking for a new job.
"Our community has the highest unemployment in the state, and here again is 213 jobs lost," said another nurse, Stasha Strunk.
Beyond the women's own futures, they worry for nearby residents who could soon lose the only hospital in Scott County.
"An hour is a lot of time when you're in critical condition," said Hill
Strunk added, "It's going to be a life and death situation, and you'll wish the hospital was here."
As the transition begins, the hospital is no longer admitting patients past the E.R.
The staff is being left to manage what they can in the meantime and hope no serious cases come their way.
Authorities say Lifestar is basing one of its choppers at the Scott County hospital over the weekend.
Nurses say employees plan to meet on Wednesday night, just before midnight, to pray together and hope for one last chance for the hospital to remain open.