Thomasville Hospital on Brink of Total Shutdown

We could know within a few days whether Thomasville's only hospital will continue operations, or will cease to exist. The future of Southwest Alabama Medical Center is anything but stable, and people are starting to talk.

 "Our patients are telling us they're worried," said Dr. Frank Dozier, a primary care physician there. "Their main concern is, 'Where do I go from here?'"

 It's no secret owners of Southwest Alabama Medical Center have dealt with major financial issues for at least a year. "It's the owner's business on how to conduct themselves," said Dr. T.B. Darji. "And once you see that it's going downhill, and not to see that and correct it, I think eventually it will fail fail fail and turn into the biggest crisis in the world."

 Inpatient services shut down over the weekend, and employees in the facility finally reached a breaking point.

 "Those here have worked a number of hours even without any pay," said Dr. Darji. "And there are still a number of employees out there who are not paid."

 Nurses and some other members of the 78 person staff say they haven't been paid in almost three weeks. They also claim to be low on supplies, and no longer feel equipped to practice safe medicine.

 After driving almost 2 hours to meet with the hospital's CEO, Ann Thompson ultimately refused our request for an on-camera interview. But Thompson said she will announce by the end of the week if the hospital will continue operations. Thompson also told us she's in talks to sell the building, but doctors say they've heard that line before.

 "There's been talk about new management and a new hospital," said Dr. Dozier, "but nothing happens."

 For now, anyone seeking immediate inpatient treatment is being relocated to Grove Hill Memorial Hospital, 15 miles away. Southwest Alabama Medical Center serves more than fifty-thousand people in all areas surrounding Clark County.