A local hospital is in jeopardy of closing, and 200 people are at risk of losing their jobs. KTEN's Jhen Kordela has more. 

A measure, put in the hands of voters next week, has caused some concern for people in Choctaw County. Choctaw Memorial Hospital in Hugo is asking county residents to pay a 3/4 of a cent sales tax to keep its doors open.

Resolution 09-15 goes to the polls Tuesday, December 9th. But, the sign stands for so much more for community members of Hugo, Oklahoma.

"What we have is a tax that would keep the doors of Choctaw Memorial Hospital open," says Gail Hillyard, nursing director.

The hospital is currently supported by a one-cent, city-wide sales tax passed in the late 1970's that expires March 31, 2009.

"However, because of the state of the economy, because of the population we serve, we still need a sales tax to keep this hospital open," says Davie Lloyd, hospital CEO.

Now, it's asking county residents for a 3/4 a cent sales tax to support and serve citizens.

"The financial market has had a downturn, it's a difficult time for many people," says Lloyd. "But, one thing that is strong, is we all need healthcare"

The 34-bed hospital has been around since the 1950s, equipped with Eagle Med. If closed down, the nearest hospital would be 25 miles away. And, it's facing yet another hurdle in a time where it's difficult for any hospital to survive.

"That's a problem across America -- reimbursement has been cut, reimbursements have gone down substantially," says Lloyd. "You know the national benchmark for bad debt in healthcare is 5 percent. This hospital is currently at 17 percent."

For employees, closing down would cause serious issues.

"It would create a hardship, and I think it would create a hardship for a lot of the people in our community," says Hillyard.

"Drastically, it'll effect my family," says RN Diane Oldham, ER manager at the hospital. "And I'd probably have to drive away from here to go to work, which is going to affect my kids because they go to school locally, and that's why I like working here at Choctaw Memorial because it's home."

A home that's at risk of shutting down.

If the measure fails, hospital officials say its unclear how long until the facility would shut down.

- Jhen Kordela, KTEN News.