DENMARK, SC (WIS) - Difficult financial times are forcing two midlands hospitals to merge.
Work is about to begin in Denmark on a new regional facility serving Barnwell and Bamberg counties.
Investors and health leaders chose Denmark because it's a central location.
Denmark's Mayor Gerald Wright is excited about the new regional hospital coming to town.
"I was elated," he said.
With an area unemployment rate hovering around 14%, Wright says until now the catchphrase "City of Pride" has been difficult to live up to.
"We've had some people say you know we don't look like as if we believe that," said Wright. "This would be another element that makes that possible."
The new hospital is called Regional Health System.
The 25-bed facility will be located off Highway 78 near Ghents Branch Road outside Denmark in Bamberg County and two miles from the Barnwell County line.
Wright says the hospital's proximity to Denmark will be a much needed boost.
"Jobs, money and hopefully some retail operations would be added," he said.
The new facility would offer specialized services neither county has seen, including rehabilitation services, obstetrics and cardiology.
Mary Valliant, CEO of Barnwell Hospital, is helping to get the facility staffed.
"first thing we're gonna do, we're doing right now, is recruiting physicians, upgrading equipment and upgrading the environment," said Valliant.
They're creating an atmosphere in Denmark neighbors hope to be proud of.
"We're not interested in competing to be the largest town in the area, we want to be complete," said Wright. "We have good education services. We'll have good health services and hopefully improvement in employment."
Dobbs Equity Partners is paying $50 million for the project.
Construction will begin this year and it will take about three and a half years to complete.
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