Rural GA hospitals struggle to stay open

For small town communities, health care options are even smaller. Four rural hospitals across the state closed over the past two years. They are Calhoun Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Stewart-Webster Hospital in Richland, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Folkston and Lower Oconee Community Hospital in Glenwood, which recently re-opened. 15 others are in a fragile state and on the verge of shutting down in coming months, according to Jimmy Lewis, the CEO of Hometown Health, a Georgia-based network of rural hospitals. Financial strain is forcing small hospitals into desperate attempts to stay afloat.