Pike County Memorial Hospital employees say they haven't been paid

Last month, Pike County Memorial Hospital closed its doors to most patients and staff. Many employees say they haven't been paid.

Some workers say they're missing about a month's worth of pay.
At least one doctor says he's been paid, but his last two paychecks bounced.

Friday, frustrated about not getting answers, about two dozen people picketed. The object for these hospital workers in Murfreesboro was to make some noise to send a message.

"It's just not right not to pay your employees," says clinic worker Barbra Sweden.

The unemployed administrators, doctors, nurses and technicians worked at the hospital, until last month financial problems reportedly forced hospital officials to shut the doors.

X-ray technician Melissa Molnaird says the hospital struggled for months. "We started hearing that things were fixing to get shut-off, venders were not getting paid, hot checks," says Molnaird.

Until earlier this year, the hospital was run by Pike County. Then, according to the lease agreement, the county started leasing it out to Robert Hicks, who is the CEO of Southwest Arkansas Health Care LLC, based out of Oklahoma City, Okla.

"When the county ran the hospital, venders were paid, employees were paid on time. Things ran pretty smoothly," says Molnaird.

Since being laid off, the former employees say they've only had contact with the hospital's Chief Administrator Arthur Benson.

"I said well please pay us before Christmas and he said, 'Didn't you get my memo? Christmas has been canceled this year,'" says Sweden.

"This is nothing to laugh about or make a joke at and I have news for him Christmas is more than a paycheck," says Molnaird.
With a staff of about 50, the hospital is the second largest employer in the city, and one of the only ones in the medical field.

In addition to sending a loud message, these workers say they're hoping to go back to work.

"We have been loyal to this hospital, and I want it to open back-up but they ought to be good to their employees who have worked hard for them," says Sweden.

Murfreesboro Mayor Jim O'Neal works at the hospital himself, and says the hospital owes him about $6,000. However, he says his main concern is helping the other workers get their pay.

Hospital officials say the closing and the lay-offs are temporary.
In fact, the hospital is scheduled to reopen in about two weeks.
However, some of the workers are skeptical.

Last month, Pike County sheriff's deputies arrested Hicks and Benson for hot checks. We tried calling them, but didn't get an answer.