Louisburg (NC) hospital closing is part of larger trend among rural hospitals

Next week's closure of Novant Health's Franklin Medical Center is part of a larger trend among struggling rural hospitals that shows signs of accelerating, according to UNC's Dr. Mark Holmes. Efforts to keep the medical center have been happening for more than a year. Franklin Medical Center is projected to lose up to $6.7 million this year, a hospital spokeswoman said. There are 113 full time and 16 part time employees at the hospital. Dr. Holmes has been studying issues facing rural hospitals and notes 57 have closed nationwide since 2010, including three in North Carolina.