After more than 10 years under the management of Hamilton Health Care system, Murray Medical Center has gone independent. Officials with the Hospital Authority of Murray County, which owns the building, say they can operate the facility to the benefit of local patients at a lower cost than Hamilton.
We wish them and the hospital well. We don’t need to tell anyone how important Murray Medical Center is, not only to Murray County but to the larger area. It’s hard to attract businesses or the sort of professional residents this area need to bring in and keep when the nearest hospital is 30 minutes or more away.
The hospital also helps keep doctors and patients inside Murray County. Especially in tough economic times, places such as Murray County need to keep every business, including doctors offices, and every consumer dollar they can inside their borders and not lose them to surrounding areas.
Murray Medical Center’s finances were in dire shape back in 2010, and the hospital and Hamilton cut 16 positions an made other changes to bring Murray Medical’s budget back into the black.
The fact that Murray residents care enough about the hospital and believe in its future enough to assume full responsibility sends a signal to those looking to move into Murray County that health care is a top priority for the area. This can only bolster its drive to boost economic development.
Murray Medical Center is one of the county’s key assets. We hope that taking it independent improves it and makes it more attractive for everyone involved.
Opinion
February 2, 2012
Editorial: Murray Medical Center takes big step
- Opinion
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