WILLIAMSTON — Two years ago, Debra Pierce faced a heartbreaking reality when her brother, Stanley Sears, died from a heart attack. She can’t help but wonder if he might have survived had their local hospital not closed. “We’ll never know,” she reflects, standing outside the mobile home where they last shared a hug.
Emergency responders from a neighboring town tried for 30 minutes to revive him, but the journey to the nearest hospital was too long. Martin County frequently finds itself in healthcare crises due to long emergency trips. Without paramedics on ambulances, residents often face 20-mile journeys to overcrowded hospitals.
In 2025, a $50 billion rural health fund was created to help address such situations, largely seen as a response to the challenges many rural hospitals face. However, this fund has not yet been distributed, and local leaders express doubts it will resolve their struggles. County Manager Drew Batts indicated that the fund won’t directly help them reopen their shuttered hospital.
After its abrupt closure in 2023, Martin General left a significant gap in healthcare access. Local leaders claim they weren’t informed of its financial troubles, leading to a scramble for emergency services. Taxpayer money has been funneled into maintaining the hospital since its closure, with ongoing efforts to create a new paramedic unit aimed at faster response times.
Pierce remains hopeful, saying, “We can only pray and hope.” The local community feels the strain. Many are forced to travel long distances for care. One resident, Eleisa Ann Evans, drove two and a half hours to get her aunt treated, only to face treatment delays due to crowding.
The surrounding area relies heavily on ECU Health, which now serves as the main healthcare provider for Martin County and others. The system has reported a surge in emergency room visits since Martin General’s closure, leading to longer wait times. In fact, their Greenville facility has seen ER visits soar by 132% since the hospital closed.
Healthcare officials express concern over this increasing demand. Brian Floyd, COO of ECU Health, stated, “It’s a real healthcare crisis,” highlighting how patients lack immediate access to necessary emergency care.
Local clinics certainly provide some relief, like the nonprofit Agape Health Services, but they cannot cover all needs. The efforts to reopen Martin General as a rural emergency hospital fall short; even the funds from the new rural health initiative can’t be used for that purpose due to restrictions.
This struggle has also entered the political arena. The upcoming midterm elections have seen candidates, like Rep. Don Davis, defending or attacking their positions on healthcare funding and access to services that could better support rural communities.
Research indicates rural areas are disproportionately affected by hospital closures. A study by the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program found that rural hospitals are closing at an alarming rate—more than 130 have shut down since 2010. As emergency rooms become overwhelmed, ongoing healthcare reforms remain critical for saving lives in areas like Martin County.
The community continues to adapt, but the lack of a local hospital leaves many families worrying about what could happen in emergencies. One mother, Vannessa Little, shared how her daughter’s treatment for severe burns involved a lengthy ambulance journey. “It’s crazy,” she noted, expressing frustration over changes in government funding and services.
The future remains uncertain. While discussions around new funding provide a glimmer of hope, residents are left seeking immediate solutions to urgent healthcare challenges.
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