Jasper's Dickerson Hospital, ER Close; Clinic Remains Open

   A Jasper hospital that was facing foreclosure shut its doors Friday night, with a sign on the hospital's front door stating the hospital and emergency room have closed, but the clinic remains open. 

   The management of Dickerson Memorial Hospital cited the foreclosure proceedings, scheduled for August 5, during which a bank was planning to auction property and equipment to satisfy a debt of nearly $2.7 million.

 Employees were seen Friday afternoon packing up their belongings.

 Dr. Joe Dickerson built the hospital in the early 1960's. 

 Dr. Dickerson, who is in his early 90's, still practiced medicine at the hospital until earlier this year. 

 Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital continues to serve people in Jasper County.

STATEMENT FROM MANAGEMENT OF DICKERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

After almost eight years of faithfully serving the Jasper community, Dickerson Memorial Hospital is officially closing its doors of an acute care hospital today, July 25th, 2008. The closure has become necessary as a result of formal foreclosure proceedings instituted by the hospital's primary secured creditor, Omni Bank.

As a background, the hospital was completely renovated by Greater Gulf Medical Alliance, Inc. during 1999-2000 through its CEO, Lawrence J. Wedekind, and was reopened on October 23, 2000. The hospital has weathered many challenges during the last eight years, including two significant legislative changes which caused major declines in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, the devastating effects of Hurricane Rita, the loss of a key General Surgeon during the escalation of the war on Iraq.

The Jasper Clinic under the direction of Dr. Rick A. Boyles will remain open to meet your health care needs.

The ownership and staff would like to thank Dr. Joe W. Dickerson and the community for their continued support throughout the years.

Signed, Larry Wedekind