The Morning Brew: An Oklahoma hospital's unusual fundraiser
Pauls valley hospital turns to online fundraising
Rural healthcare in the United States is a hot topic year in and year out, but it's gone to new levels in Pauls Valley, where a local hospital has turned to a popular online fundraising site to keep its doors open.
Oklahoma City — Pauls Valley Regional Medical Center should stay open Tuesday, its CEO said, but it's far from clear that the hospital can last through Wednesday.
Frank Avignone, the hospital's CEO, said Pauls Valley needs $500,000 by the end of the week to pay overdue costs for health benefits. It needs about half of that even faster to make payroll.
“We have to have $243,000 in our bank by this afternoon,” he said when reached at about noon Monday. “If I had to stretch it until (Tuesday) morning, I think the employees would hang with me.”
The hospital won't receive any revenue for its services until it pays off its debts to NewLight Healthcare, a Texas company that managed the hospital from 2013 to early July. Avignone declined to specify how much the hospital owes, because it still is in negotiations, but NewLight claims it exceeds $2.3 million.
Oklahoma firefighters lend a hand in hurricane recovery
A crew of two dozen Oklahomans arrived in North Carolina early Sunday to help with rescues following Hurricane Florence.
While they have not participated in any emergency rescues, they have talked to about 100 people who decided to weather the storm in their homes, Oklahoma City fire District Chief Brad Smith said.
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Matt Patterson has been with The Oklahoman since 2006. Prior to joining the news staff in 2010, Patterson worked in The Oklahoman's sports department for five years. He previously worked at The Lawton Constitution and The Edmond Sun.... Read more ›