Like many other businesses in the county, Anson Community Hospital has proven it isn't immune to the nation's economic recession. Two weeks ago, an unspecified number of employees received word that they would be losing their jobs. In addition, several programs have been axed, hiring of new employees has been halted and employees will not receive merit raises this year.

"We are declining to discuss numbers of positions, but I can tell you that three

programs have been cut -- the mobile health screening clinic, the parish nurse

program and the resource development department," said Kevin M. McCarthy, senior media relations specialist at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, which owns Anson's hospital. "We have also frozen hiring and will not be providing merit increases this year."

McCarthy added that while not easy, the decisions were necessary. "These are all difficult decisions, but we are faced with a deteriorating economic situation in Anson County," he said. "The high level of unemployment is causing a decrease in the number of people seeking elective medical care and an increase in the number of patients who are unable to pay for necessary medical care."

The hospital will continue to serve the community to the best of its ability, McCarthy said. "Our goal with all these steps is to preserve our core mission of providing acute care services to county residents. As a result, some programs that aren't

directly related to the core mission had to be eliminated. We intend to make

whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that Anson Community Hospital remains a valuable community resource for many years to come."

He also added that although it was rumored the hospital may close, that is not in the plans at this time.