Rural North Carolina town is set to reopen its shuttered hospital with help from a new federal program

In Williamston, North Carolina, the closure of Martin General Hospital has left the community without essential health care services. The new federal designation of “rural emergency hospital” offers hope for the hospital to potentially reopen and provide emergency and outpatient care. The community is facing challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, and the success of this new model is still being evaluated. Efforts are also being made to address social determinants of health and improve overall well-being in the community. Residents like Christopher Harrison are hopeful for the reopening of the hospital to provide essential emergency care.