Three rural Coastal Empire hospitals receive federal funding to support staff

CLAXTON, Ga. (WTOC) - Rural hospitals across the Coastal Empire are set to receive a boost in federal funding aimed at supporting frontline healthcare workers and preventing hospital closures.

The funding comes through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program, a new federal initiative established this year to strengthen rural healthcare operations. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped pass funding for the program as part of a bipartisan government funding package signed into law in February.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded roughly $187,000 each to several area facilities, including Evans Memorial Hospital, Emanuel Medical Center and Appling General Hospital.

Hospital leadership said the grant will directly aid the recruitment and retention of frontline medical staff by keeping wages competitive.

“Funding of clinical team members, of those that are providing direct patient care, and really to support competitive wage, also for education enhancement — things that then can support the development of our most precious resource, which is our human resources,” said Evans Memorial Hospital CEO Bill Lee.

Lee noted that keeping rural hospitals viable is a vital bipartisan issue, ensuring agricultural workers and families throughout Georgia have quality healthcare access close to home.