Cumberland River Hospital To Resume Operations Next Month

Celina’s Cumberland River Hospital will resume operations when a new clinic opens next month.

Hospital Administrator Don Downey said residents can expect emergency room services to begin next year.

“November the 15, we will open our hospital clinic. We will ramp up and let the physicians and community bond towards the end of November and December,” Downey said. “So everything is ready to go, but the emergency room and all services will be available January 1.”

County, city, and state officials gathered Tuesday to celebrate the hospital’s grand opening. Cumberland River Hospital closed earlier this year after Cookeville Regional Medical Center decided to sell the facility. Crossville-based Rural Hospitals and Clinics of America purchased the hospital from CRMC in July.

Downey said the delay with opening the emergency room services involves a cash flow issue.

“We have to apply for a CMS provider number before commercial insurances will sign on with us,” Downey said. “All you have to do is submit, which we will do this week, to get a confirmation from CMS. But it takes three to five months to get the number. It’s a terrible risk for you to go ahead and hire people and spend money to open the hospital.”

Downey said the clinic opening next month will have 13 exam rooms and operate Monday through Saturday.