The George E. Weems Memorial Hospital has received $3 million dollars from a federal CARES Covid-19 Response allocation

The George E. Weems Memorial Hospital has received $3 million dollars from a federal CARES Covid-19 Response allocation.

That announcement was made on Friday, May the 8^th.

Weems is among 200 rural providers in Florida who will share in more than $1 billion dollars allocated to Florida’s rural facilities.

Weems is a rural Critical Access Hospital.

Weems Interim CEO David Walker said “COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere and will be a way of life for our communities. Like many other hospitals, especially small rural and Critical Access Hospitals, Weems felt the pinch financially during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

For Weems, which operates the hospital, two rural health clinics and the ambulance services for the County, the amount of annual expenses total about $8.8 million per year.

David Walker said “With the loss of revenue and increased expenses due to our COVID-19 Response, this funding will aid our continuing efforts to prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19.”

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services announcement, rural hospitals, many of whom were operating on thin margins prior to COVID-19, have been particularly devastated by this pandemic.

http://live.oysterradio.com/