A rural health clinic in Eastern Carolina is closing because of declining patients, according to ECU.
The Bethel Family Medicine Clinic has been a part of the community for more than 30 years, operated by ECU's Brody School of Medicine. It will close September 1st and services will move to a new Family Medicine Center in Greenville.
ECU says during the last fiscal year, the clinic operated $100,000 in the red. In 2006-2007 fiscal year it saw 6,710 patients, last year that was down to 5,221 and so far this year only 3,884 patients have been seen.
ECU says the facility is more than 60 years old and it was unfeasible to renovate and keep it in Bethel.
