Med Gets Millions in State and Federal Match

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Last February the Mid-South's only level one trauma center could have closed. Cash-strapped, it's been hanging on for life since. However a major announcement Thursday may mean the Med is out of the woods.

"As CEO I'm excited, I'm grateful to our mayor, to our county commission, and state delegation," said Dr. Reginald Coopwood.

In a court yard nestled between the County Administration Building and the State Building Downtown on Main Street, Shelby County Interim Mayor, Joe Ford proudly made it public that the Med has millions more to keep the doors open.

"The wire's in the process. Now there's over $40 million that will go to the Regional Medical Center," Mayor Ford said.

In a collaborative effort between local leaders and the Shelby County Legislative Delegation that took months, $10 million of the county's money was matched 3 to 1 by the state and federal government.

"We said there would be rule twenty-two, that the twenty-two members of the delegation would stick together, non-partisan, and bring it home for Shelby County and they did," said State Representative G. A. Hardaway.

"This is symbolic, symbolic ladies and gentlemen, the work of this county government and the state government in going to Washington and our federal government to help the city and our county with this grant," State Senator Jim Kyle said.

"The Med is our soul. I thank Mayor Ford, Senator Kyle and all the other leaders. I'm proud to have been apart of it," said Congressman Steve Cohen.

Med CEO, Dr. Reginald Coopwood said the $40.6 million will go toward the Med's 2011 budget, and be spread around to improve care. He said the new funding may not be a one time windfall. As long as the county upholds its portion of the match, he said it could be a resource the Med can count on year after year.

"I'm not projecting that we'll be back talking about the Med is in trouble," he said.