SEDALIA, Mo. — Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia furloughed 50 employees Monday, one of many rural hospitals in Missouri and across the country dealing with the financial strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We had to make that difficult decision because of our drastic decrease in volume — 75% of same-day surgery, 45% in our clinic," CEO Lori Wightman said. "We need to conserve cash."
Wightman also is concerned for other small communities that rely on providers like hers.
"Rural hospitals in Missouri and all over the country had struggled before the pandemic," she said. "Now, it's turned up the volume on that."
Since 2014, 10 rural hospitals in Missouri have closed. The financial strain of this pandemic is threatening those that remain open, like Bothwell Regional Health Center.
Sedalia is feeling the fallout too. Downtown is quiet, save a few small businesses, like Art Impressions Gallery.
"This gallery is full of Missouri artists," owner Garnetta Sullivan, who is pushing forward with an online store and curbside delivery, said. "Many of them, that's their work and their livelihood. We're down to 10% of what we normally have as far as business. We just have to roll with the punches and do the best we can for our artists."
Sedalia is also doing its best to support front-line health care workers, including an increase in donations flooding into Bothwell's foundation.
"The outpouring of support in materials, in (personal protective equipment) and cash donations for those that don't have equipment to make or donate, is fantastic," president Stafford Swearingen said. "This community knows this hospital is vital."
