(Cameron)     Larry Burkhart, director of Human Resources at Net Care Incorporated of Nashville Tennessee, announced Thursday (9/2) the intention of the company to close Central Texas Hospital.  (Burkhart statement)  Burkhart said the closing is planned for November 5th.  (Burkhart statement)  A private for-profit company out of Boulder Colorado had shown interest in the hospital, and had been in town interviewing citizens and staff members, but backed out as a candidate earlier this week.  Net Care Systems has operated the hospital since April 1998.  Burkhart said the reason for closing is simple economics.  (Burkhart statement)  Mayor James Lafferty told KMIL News Thursday he was dissappointed in the news.  (Lafferty statement)

Foyer of Central Texas Hospital

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Net Care officials notify employees Thursday that Central Texas Hospital will be closing.

Now the task to save the hospital is at hand once again.  The hospital has two local boards, the Central Texas Hospital Board actually owns the property while the CTH Board governs the operations.  Chairman of the Central Texas Hospital Board Mark Humble, and President of the CTH Board Kevin Harmon told KMIL News Thursday that both boards will probably meet next week to discuss options of keeping the facility open.  Humble led an aggressive community effort to purchase and re-open the hospital 8 years ago, after the facility was closed by  Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Health Care Systems.  Burkhart said Thursday that assuming the lease is a relatively simple process.  (Burkhart statement)  Meanwhile, more than 100 full and part time employees were notified Thursday that the hospital would close as of November 5th, and that they would be permanently laid off as of that date.