News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
One month in to the reopening of Celina’s Cumberland River Hospital, Owner Johnny Presley said he is proud of the operation so far.
The clinic has averaged around 25 to 50 patients a day. Presley said the emergency room has served about 200 patients.
“Oh, the community has done great,” Presley said. “We have had several admissions. Patient experiences have been great. Everyone is just tickled to death to have their local community hospital back open and running.”
Presley said he hopes to finalize a deal with an investment group sometime this month to help financially. But, the hospital’s biggest focus and challenge right now is staffing. Cumberland River Hospital staffs the emergency room 24/7. Presley said they hope to add surgeons on full-time in the future.
“Obviously, with the current pandemic, there is a surge in huge demand for healthcare workers,” Presley said. “Rural communities are really hit hard by this, because the bigger health care facilities can pay more and provide better benefits.”
Presley said patients with more acute medical conditions are transferred to other healthcare facilities. Right now, the hospital is caring for four patients. Presley said the most the hospital has served at once is eight.
Presley bought Cumberland River Hospital after it closed to declining revenues from Cookeville Regional Hospital. Cumberland River Hospital’s clinic is open weekly from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
