Since the hospital in Douglas, Ariz., closed its doors last month, patients have been forced to head to other medical facilities in Southern Arizona.
Traffic has increased 40 percent at the emergency room at Bisbee’s Copper Queen Community Hospital since Aug. 1, the Bisbee Observer reports.
Copper Queen Community's medical complex in Douglas only has a low-level ER, which has seen a 35-percent increase in patients.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jim Dickson said the Bisbee hospital has added more beds and hired more employees to help accommodate the spike in patients.
Dickson said his hospital, along with other interested parties, are doing a feasibility study to see if a free-standing ER is necessary or even financially possible in Douglas. But he said it looks unlikely there will be enough demand.
