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Whitfield Regional Hospital was the recent recipient of $1.1 millions of federal funding that had been secured by Congresswoman Terri Sewell. Sewell presented the check during a “Congress in Your Community” town hall session. The funding will go towards a healthcare training program partnership between WRH and Wallace Community College’s Demopolis campus.

Each year Sewell’s office works to identify community projects to be funded through the annual federal government funding package. This year Sewell and her team have secured a total of $42.8 million for 15 projects.

WRH CEO/Administrator Doug Brewer expressed his gratitude for the funding and Sewell’s understanding of the needs of the Black Belt Region.

“I can’t tell you how important it is, especially in an area where we’re doing everything we can to provide health care to people that haven’t gotten traditionally forever,” said Brewer. “It is so great to have a congresswoman who knows what we’re facing in this region, what we’re trying to do to help people, and to begin to change the tides that have been here forever.”

“We know that COVID 19 pandemic only exacerbated the strain placed on our health care professionals. It has been hospitals like Whitfield Regional Hospital that have continued to deliver lifesaving care often with scarce resources,” said Sewell. “As your federal partner, I have been fighting every day to ensure that hospitals and health care centers across our district get the resources they need to provide for our residents with the quality health care they deserve.”

Sewell went on to say that the Black Belt Region needs a robust workforce with the necessary skills and training to get the job done. She said the funding will help create a pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals in the Black Belt to meet the healthcare needs of the community. Through the partnership with WRH and WCC, high school students will have the opportunity to rotate through the clinical and non-clinical departments in the hospital.

“Whitfield Regional Hospital is a pillar not only in Demopolis, but in the Black Belt. Your hard work has led the way in providing central care for many of our loved ones and our neighbors,” said Sewell. “Despite the strain placed on health care systems, Whitfield has found a way out of no way. With this funding secured in the 2023 budget, this hospital will continue to make critical investments in our health care workforce that will pave the way for generations to come.”

WRH Board Chairman Thomas Moore expressed his thanks and gratitude for the funding that will help Whitfield continue providing the best care possible.

“This means the world to us. We struggle with our level of employment, just as many institutions are right now. If we can grow our own, that is what we’re trying to do. This is going to get miles down the road. I look forward to continuing to work with you all, and we thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” said Moore.

Blaine Hathcock, campus director for the Demopolis branch of WCC, touched on how important it is to have a healthcare program that doesn’t involve students traveling an hour or more away for training.

“Being able to have a place where we can develop healthcare professionals and pipeline those professionals whether it’s into patient care, tech programs, or nursing programs, and have them here in Demopolis is outstanding,” said Hathcock.