Baxter Health has received its second round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and with the money some big changes are on the way at the hospital including the expansion of the emergency room, more operating rooms and the hiring of more surgeons.
Baxter Health and the Fulton County Hospital in Salem, which is operating under a management agreement with Baxter Health and will become part of the Baxter Health Family Jan. 1, have both received their second round of ARPA funds. Baxter Health received $1,835,647 while the Fulton County Hospital got $2,500,000.
Baxter Health President and CEO Ron Peterson says they will be using the ARPA funds for growth and infrastructure, beginning with the remodeling and expansion of the emergency room.
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Peterson says the funding is very important because the last several years have been extremely difficult financially for hospitals.
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He explains why the COVID pandemic was such a tough time for hospitals.
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Baxter Health will find out in November if they qualify for a third round of ARPA funds.
Peterson says the funding for both hospitals relied heavily on a lot of help including the governor’s office, State Senators Scott Flippo and Missy Irvin and State Representatives Jack Fortner, Stetson Painter and Trey Steimel.
In part two of our story tomorrow, we will hear about the improvements being made at the Fulton County Hospital with the ARPA funds.
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