Prague city council votes to try to help hospital stay in business

Prague, Okla. (KOKH) — On Tuesday evening, the City of Prague held an emergency meeting to talk about the future of its hospital.

Last week, there was growing concern among employees when they weren't paid on time.

At the end of a closed session, the city council voted to start negotiating with the company that runs the hospital, EmpowerHMS, and if necessary take them to court.

“I can't make a promise, but I believe we can," said Mayor Cliff Bryant when asked if the city would help keep the hospital open.

It's a small rural hospital, but to its patients and employees, closing its doors would be devastating.

“Saved my life," said Mark White during public comment. "Brought me back from the dead."

"A lot of people have been saved in these rural hospitals," said Mary Ward, a physician's assistant at the hospital.

With a shortage of funds, the hospital is running out of basic supplies.

Its not just its patients who health are in jeopardy, some employees say they're worried about their health insurance.

“I don’t have their health insurance, but I know several who do have their health insurance and their claims have not been paid," Ward said.

Employees say they're worried about getting their next paycheck, and what would happen to a small city if 60 people were to lose their jobs.

“If you don’t have people eating here, banking here, doing business here it’s going to affect all of the businesses around," Ward said.

Mayor Bryant said the city will do what it can to help keep the hospital open.

He wouldn't say if the city would help the hospital financially, but it has in the past.

Two months ago, another rural hospital in Pauls Valley closed.

The Oklahoma Hospital Association says six rural hospitals in the state have closed or no longer provide inpatient service since 2016.