Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Ivy Creek of Butler will close Georgiana Medical Center in Georgiana effective March 31, according to a press release received from company officials just before 4:30 p.m. today.

Officials from Ivy Creek, L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital and the City of Greenville will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Georgiana Medical Center, located at 515 Miranda Ave. in Georgiana, to discuss the closure and upcoming changes. The public is invited to attend.

The closure is part of a realignment of healthcare services driven by the current difficult financial environment faced by rural healthcare providers. In the realignment, Ivy Creek’s rural health clinics will continue in operation under the management of L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital in Greenville. The two organizations will combine their home health agencies under the direction of Ivy Creek.

“The rising costs of healthcare coupled with the cuts in reimbursement have made it impractical to maintain financial viability with two hospitals operating in Butler County,” Mike Bruce, CEO of Ivy Creek, said in a prepared statement. “The partnering of the two organizations is the optimal way to continue to provide overall high-quality healthcare for the residents of Butler County, as well as the surrounding areas.”

Ivy Creek and L.V. Stabler, which had operated competing home health businesses, will combine operations to provide more efficient and effective care for their patients. Ivy Creek will manage the combined home health agency. The creation of this new home health organization, named Ivy Creek of Butler Home Health, will take effect over the next 90 days with no significant changes.

“Small hospitals, in particular those in Alabama’s underserved, rural counties, are under tremendous financial pressure,” L.V. Stabler Interim CEO Connie Nicholas said. “We’ve seen other hospitals across the state forced to close their doors. Together with Ivy Creek, we see this realignment as a means for maintaining healthcare options here at home and providing for the needs of our citizens who depend upon us.”

As part of an overall change in business strategy in Butler County, Ivy Creek will cease operations at Georgiana Medical Center effective March 31. Patients will be directed to L.V. Stabler and other area hospitals. The current Rural Health Clinics will continue to operate under the management of L.V. Stabler and will continue to see patients with no significant changes in service.