The Copper Basin Medical Center in Polk County, Tenn., has shut down its inpatient services, laid off nurses and is soliciting donations through a GoFundMe page.
The hospital's chief financial officer, Tim Henry, wrote on GoFundMe, "The hospital has fallen on hard times and in the ever competitive world of health care it is becoming increasingly harder for the smaller hospitals to compete effectively and efficiently!"
Our news partner WRCB-TV reported more than 15 nurses were laid off when the hospital shut down its inpatient beds and some hadn't been paid for weeks.
The hospital also sent out a letter to patients with past-due accounts offering a two-for-one special: Whatever they pay toward their overdue bills, the hospital will give them a matching credit in the same amount.
Henry's GoFundMe post said the next 45 days "will be our most critical period for survival of Copper Basin Medical Center. ... We are asking for any donations that the community, or anyone willing to donate to a valuable cause can make!"
He said hospital leaders hope to raise enough money to reopen when the new fiscal year begins in October.
Hospital officials said outpatient services are still available.