Monroe County Hospital is the largest employer in Monroeville. The hospital opened its doors in 1962 with just 35 employees. Since that time, growth and development have been continuous for the rural hospital with major building additions in 1967, 1974, 1980, 2000, 2017 and 2020. Recent renovations inside and outside the hospital have given a much-needed facelift to the facility. The long-awaited new Monroe County Hospital Emergency Department opened its doors in March 2020. The $2.5 million project tripled the size of the emergency area to 9,000 square feet. The department expanded to 12 beds, which include multiple trauma rooms, an isolation room and a decontamination room. Each room features a nurse-call system for better patient communication and new bedside cardiac units.
For over 58 years, Monroe County Hospital has been delivering a high level of quality care while being responsive to the needs and values of patients, physicians and employees. MCH is a 94-bed facility offering a full range of modern medical and surgical services in a clean and safe environment, close to home. Monroe County Hospital is proud to be Joint Commission Accredited and recognizes the dedication it takes from each department of the hospital to achieve this distinction.
The newly-renovated eight-bed MCH intensive care unit is staffed by registered nurses, skilled at caring for a realm of patients including pediatric, adult, geriatric and surgical patients. MCH’s Medical-Surgical unit offers quality care to patients of all ages.
Monroe County Hospital’s full-service emergency department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offers nursing and physician coverage with a combined 180 years experience. The staff guides patient safety and care practices, lead quality improvement efforts and promote solutions to prevent patient safety events.
The cardiopulmonary department provides inpatient and outpatient treatment and diagnostic testing, including respiratory therapy, sleep studies, cardiac testing and cardiovascular imaging. Monroe County Hospital’s radiology department provides state-of-the-art CT, MRI, ultrasound, digital mammography, diagnostic imaging with digital fluoroscopy and bone density scans. They also have a picture archive communication system for image storage.
MCH’s modern birthing unit consists of spacious birthing suites, a postpartum unit and nursery. The labor and delivery department offers childbirth and breastfeeding classes for expectant mothers and provides certified lactation consultations. In 2017, MCH was designated as a Baby Friendly birth facility, the first rural hospital in Alabama to receive this prestigious designation. MCH also encourages a breastfeeding mom’s support group for the local area.
Monroe County Hospital offers outpatient and inpatient general surgical services including laparoscopic hernia repairs and gallbladder surgeries, obstetrics, breast surgeries and endoscopic procedures. The chemotherapy/oncology department services 16 surroundings counties and has a board-certified oncologist available Tuesdays and Wednesdays for clinic appointments. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday with a Board-certified nurse practitioner who specializes in oncology and hematology. MCH has four chemotherapy certified registered nurses and a patient reimbursement specialist to assist patients with treatment assistance.
MCH Physicians Group is a family medical clinic located in the downstairs wing of Monroe County Hospital. They provide families with preventive and routine medical care for all ages. Services offered by the Physicians’ Group range from physicals to diagnostics to treatment of minor illnesses. These caring professionals see patients from pediatrics to geriatrics, Monday through Friday.
The MCH lab is a full-service laboratory providing hematology, chemistry, coagulation, blood bank, urinalysis, serology, microbiology and drug monitoring. The lab is staffed 24 hours and provides outpatient services from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monroe County Hospital’s pharmacy department provides medication services to both inpatients and outpatients including the oncology clinic, diabetes education and ambulatory infusion patients. The pharmacists and staff work along with the physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals to provide the most appropriate drug therapy for each patient. Pharmacists educate patients, their family members and caregivers about safe and effective use of medications while in the hospital and after discharge.
MCH Progressive Home Care and Hospice of Monroe County offer quality health care to the community in the convenience of the patients’ homes. Both service lines have specialized trained professionals dedicated to providing compassionate healthcare in the home setting. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Monroe County Hospital Auxiliary is a large group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the hospital and its employees. Volunteers orchestrate numerous fundraisers throughout the year and run a gift shop at the hospital. They assist patients by offering directions, answering questions and helping patients with wheelchairs. One of their largest fundraisers is the Holiday Tree of Love, an opportunity to memorialize or honor loved ones with a charitable donation. For more information on the Tree of Love or the MCH Auxiliary, write to: P.O. Box 886, Monroeville, AL 36461.
The Monroe Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, receives tax-deductible donations for the health care needs of Monroe County and surrounding areas. Diabetes education and support and providing scholarships for diabetes camp for Monroe County Children are a few focus areas. General support, health education and community outreach are other areas of endowment provided by the foundation. T-shirts, cookbooks and raffles are ways the community supports the foundation throughout the year. MHF hosts an annual holiday benefit the first weekend in December and a 5K run to support diabetes, typically held in the spring. Sponsorships, donations, memorials and honorariums can be made throughout the year to the Monroe Health Foundation. Send donations to Monroe Health Foundation P.O. Box 702, Monroeville AL 36461.