PCMC

The June 4, 2020 Carrollton Town Council meeting began with Mayor Mickey Walker giving a COVID-19 update. “Since the last meeting, the Governor has slacked up on the guidelines, so we slacked up on the stores as long as they maintain six foot distance,” Walker said. “If that changes again with the Governor, we will change with it because we’ve already got that ordinance in effect.”

Walker mentioned that the city had received a Pickens County Medical Center water bill and received payment for $5,623.11 last month and the balance is $63,869.20.

Journey Detox and Recovery, LLC, founded in 2012 at Clay County Hospital by CEO Lamar Ward and CFO Kathy Evans. The program is an inpatient medical detoxification and recovery facility where all phases of recovery are managed. The program's priority is to help patients detoxify their body without putting any other chemicals into the body, such as suboxone, a drug that is used to treat pain, as well as addiction to narcotic pain relievers.

Recently, inquiries have been made about the decision of the Pickens County Health Care Authority, which owns and operates Pickens County Medical Center, to terminate its management agreement with Boa Vida Healthcare. 

As you may know, Pickens County Medical Center has been under severe financial stress and, in an effort to improve the hospital’s financial condition, Boa Vida was engaged at the first of February of this year to manage the hospital.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Big changes have been taking place at the Pickens County Medical Center (PCMC) the past few months. A breath of fresh air in the guise of John O’Neal, recently appointed CEO/Administrator, has brought new life and new changes to the formerly struggling hospital.

BY BRIAN HAMILTON, Correspondent

Dr. James (Jim) Gentry, Jr. has decided to hang up the stethoscope after working as a surgeon at Pickens County Medical Center (PCMC) for the past 33 years. Dozens of friends, family members, and colleagues gathered at PCMC last Sunday to recognize Gentry for his service to the hospital.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

On behalf of the Health Resources Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), and Delta Regional Authority (DRA), The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) is excited to announce Pickens County Hospital has been selected to participate in the Delta Regional Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program.

Through the DRCHSD Program, the DRA and FORHP have partnered to support nine rural communities with an opportunity to receive intensive technical assistance (TA).

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Four students of the Senior class of Pickens Academy collaborated and submitted a supplemental grant to the University of Alabama on behalf of the Pickens County Health Authority, specifically the Pickens County Medical Center (PCMC), for a $150,000 grant geared toward the hiring of a new administrator to fortify and rejuvenate the PCMC.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

On Mar. 19, Pickens County Medical Center (PCMC) welcomed its new CEO and President, John O’Neil. Mr. O’Neil has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, serving as the CEO of St. Vincent’s hospital from 2009 to 2015 and most recently served as a consultant for UAB Health System. While at UAB, O’Neil assisted in developing and implementing strategic plans for rural hospitals across Alabama. Mr. O’Neil holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa and a Masters Degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University.