Public Health Emergency extension through October 13; benefits HMH

During the July meeting of the Howard Memorial Hospital’s board of directors, CEO Debra Wright reported Howard, Hempstead, Pike, Sevier and Little River were rated at a medium level by the Department of Health for the number of current Covid cases. However, she said due to home test kits, the total number of cases may be understated.

Wright said a steady number of Covid cases have been admitted to the hospital. She said a few were admitted for Covid, while the majority tested positive after being admitted for other conditions.

Wright also stated the Public Health Emergency has been extended to October 13. 

Wright also updated the board on the hospital’s critical access designation. She said the CMS is working to add the words ‘primary roads’ to its location and distance requirements. She said the clarification states a critical access hospital has to be more than a  35-mile drive on primary roads  A primary road would be defined has a numbered federal or state two-lane highway  Wright said she was assured HMH would not be affected by the construction of the new hospital in Sevier County.