Grassroots Campaign Aims At Saving HCMC Obstetrics Department

By Shannon McFarlin News Director

Paris, Tenn.–Billboards and yard signs have been popping up all over our area imploring the public to help save the Henry County Medical Center Obstetrics Department.

They are part of a grassroots campaign initiated by a group of concerned local citizens who have organized to save the department following the announcement by HCMC’s CEO John Tucker that obstetrics services will be suspended Sept. 1.

Tucker made the announcement in late May, saying that the hospital would reorganize the Paris Women’s Center and begin offering only gynecologic services. He said the move is due to “very low volumes” at the OB department “for the past several months”. The issue has been discussed at length at recent Henry County Commission meetings, as well as at a Community Forum called by HCMC June 22.

The grassroots organization calls itself Northwest Tennessee Cares and they have a website at https://nwtncares.org/ at which the public can learn more about how to be involved. The website shares the names and addresses of elected officials to be contacted and you can also sign up for yard signs to be brought to you.

Northwest Tennessee Cares also has a Facebook page where you can find information.

Dr. Pamela Evans has asked the public to “take some time to support our OB unit at our NW TN independent hospital HCMC. Babies are the smallest of us but so important. Individually our voices may be small but united together we can make big differences. The problem comes down to disparity in Medicaid funding. Add your voice.”