FYN has learned a meeting was held at the North Georgia Medical Facility today and an announcement was made about hospital services.  According to our sources the hospital will no longer offer Emergency Room Services.  The ER will close at the end of February 2016.  Citizens requiring emergency services will need to travel to Piedmont Mountainside in Jasper or Fannin Regional in Blue Ridge which would be the two closest facilities.

North Georgia Medical will maintain a reduced bed hospital and preliminary plans are to turn the emergency room area into a day clinic.  Our source explained one reason for this decision is the emergency room is reportedly losing $100,000 per month.  Our understanding is according to State law emergency rooms cannot turn away indigent care but this may not apply to a day clinic.

Citizens in Gilmer county would most likely need to travel out of county if they require emergency care.  FYN will update when more details are available.