Deal is struck to keep hospital open

Late Monday afternoon, Jacksonville City leaders signed a deal that will keep North Metro Medical Center open.  For months the fate of Jacksonville's only hospital has been up in the air. Most months the hospital is operating in the red.

"It absolutely needs to stay open, especially if you have cardiac issues, there is nothing from Beebe to here," said LaDonna Delee.

Ladonna Delee is well aware of North Metro Medical Centers ongoing financial struggles, she used to be a nurse here, and right now her dad is about to undergo bypass surgery after having a heart attack.  Delee says if North Metro was closed, her dad may not have gotten to another hospital in time.

"It might have been very different, very different, they were coming from Des Arc, and this was the first facility," said Delee.

Last month, North Metro operated $450,000 in the red. Mayor Swaim says a new deal will keep this hospital open.

If Allegiance Health Management signs on the dotted line, part of the agreement, if they buy the hospital, they must continue to provide emergency care.  A deal Mayor Tommy Swaim is confident about.

"This deal will come through and we will maintain the hospital here in the community. January first is our target date, said Mayor Swaim.

Mayor Swaim says nearby competing hospitals are one reason why North Metro is struggling. Another reason is a high amount of charity cases and patients simply not paying their hospital bills.

Allegiance Health Management takes over operations on January first.