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Appling Healthcare: OR reopened, ICU remains closed; swing‑bed program to open April 24
Summary
Appling Healthcare officials reported the operating room reopened in November 2022 after COVID closure; the ICU remains closed for staffing reasons. The hospital plans a swing‑bed program starting April 24, and leaders warned citizens to complete Medicaid revalidation to avoid increased county indigent-care costs.
Appling Healthcare executives updated the Appling County Board of Commissioners on hospital operations at the April 4 meeting, reporting partial restoration of services and continuing staffing challenges.
"The OR opened in November 2022 after 2 ½ years of Covid closure," Andrea Graham, chief executive officer of Appling Healthcare, told the board. She said the intensive-care unit remains closed because of staffing shortages. Graham said the hospital plans to begin a swing‑bed program on April 24, 2023, and encouraged community donations through the county tax-credit program.
Tony O'Steen, chief financial officer, said hospital financial performance is improving but the facility remains in a loss position and that "Medicaid Revalidation" is a pressing administrative issue. O'Steen told the commissioners the hospital is posting revalidation assistance information on its website, Facebook page and local newspapers and warned that the county's indigent-care expenses would increase if residents do not complete revalidation paperwork.
Graham also reported the nursing-home census at about 78–82 residents (capacity 101) and said demolition began on an EMS building that burned; she estimated the rebuild will take roughly six weeks. The minutes do not record a specific reopening date for the ICU or the budgetary impact of the swing‑bed program.
