Geary Community Hospital has been one of 22 hospitals nationwide participating in a rural health demonstration project.

It’s meant a lot of funding for GCH but officials this week are watching Congress to see if legislation continuing the project will be approved.

Geary Community Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Stratton said it’s a federal act. “We’re part of it, wherein funding is given to hospitals of our size, not the small ones, not the larger ones to continue to do positive things in terms of medical technology and taking care of your building and really trying to move ahead with quality healthcare.”

Stratton noted the Act expires Thursday night at midnight. “It’s been in the House and the Senate. We are hoping and praying that it’ll be voted on so it’ll continue for another five years. And it’s a significant program for us, because it’s about $1.2 million a year.”

Stratton added if the project does not stay intact Geary Community Hospital will have to deal with the fact that they’ll have more than one million dollars less to help improve services adnd move ahead in a more positive direction.