Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Ga., is navigating an employee complaint as the financially struggling rural facility works to convert from a rural emergency hospital and continue a broader financial turnaround after facing possible closure in late 2025.
The hospital’s HR department launched an internal investigation after receiving a formal complaint from the employee, who has since left the hospital, Mary Demian, CEO of Irwin County Hospital, told Becker’s. The complaint, filed by the hospital’s director of finance at the time, alleged a hostile work environment, unequal enforcement of workplace policies, lack of support during staffing shortages and unethical business practices.
Alongside the internal review, Ms. Demian said she contacted the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office, shared the complaint and asked the agency to review the allegations.
“I told HR I don’t want to be part of this investigation. I wanted it to be a very honest and sincere investigation, and that’s why I also decided to have an external investigation,” Ms. Demian said. “I agreed with the sheriff that when we finish the internal investigation, we’ll share that with him.”
Becker’s has reached out to the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.
Ms. Demian, who officially became CEO on Feb. 10 after joining the hospital on Nov. 1, said the employee had been promoted from controller to director of finance and was the sole person with access to the hospital’s bank accounts. After the employee submitted a letter June 18, the hospital removed her bank access but made no changes to her salary or benefits, Ms. Demian said. The employee left the hospital June 25.
She disputed some of the complaint’s characterizations directly. On staffing, Ms. Demian said the hospital has grown from 145 employees in February to 164 employees and continues to hire.
The complaint comes at a critical time for Irwin County Hospital, which operates a hospital, a nursing home, two clinics and an urgent care center. Ms. Demian said she was told when she arrived that the facility was among three Georgia hospitals facing possible closure by Dec. 31, 2025.
“My first day here was Nov. 1, and from day one I was by myself,” Ms. Demian said. “When I came, they told me Irwin County Hospital was listed to be one of three hospitals they were going to close by Dec. 31 of 2025. Well, we’re still open, and we’re going to be open.”
The hospital operates as a rural emergency hospital, and leadership is pursuing conversion to an acute care hospital reimbursed under Medicare’s prospective payment system, which Ms. Demian said would restore a broader range of inpatient services. The CEO said the state has received the hospital’s conversion application from CMS and has reached out about completing the necessary paperwork for a survey. She expects the paperwork to be finished in August, with the conversion process taking three to six months after the state survey.
The hospital has also secured several financial stabilization supports in 2026. The state accepted a financial stability plan submitted by leadership in February. The facility became eligible July 1 to participate in the Georgia HEART Hospital Program, which allows taxpayers to direct state tax credits to qualifying rural hospitals. The hospital also receives funding through HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.
Ms. Demian said the hospital’s challenges extend beyond the current complaint. She pointed to financial pressures and a temporary water shutoff earlier this year that drew attention from state lawmakers. Becker’s previously reported the January water shutoff stemmed from an unpaid balance with the city and was resolved without disrupting patient care after emergency water protocols were activated.
She said the hospital is working to bring specialty physicians on board once current pressures ease as it continues its conversion effort.
“We are headed in the right direction, but it seems like this is typical for a smaller hospital,” Ms. Demian said. “It’s not just the rural hospital role that’s not enough, but you have to fight all these external factors.”
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