Hartselle Medical Center is planning to stop admitting patients on Wednesday in preparation for the Jan. 31 closing of the hospital, which has been open since 1948.

In an email sent to hospital employees and board members, HMC market CEO Tim McGill said Capella Healthcare has “asked for and anticipate receiving final approval from the Alabama Department of Public Health to cease admitting new patients as of 5 p.m. on Wed. Jan. 18, 2012. While we evaluated a number of options, including closing the Emergency Department at this same time, that is not our current plan. We plan to continue seeing patients in the Emergency Room until 5 pm on Tue., Jan. 31, 2012.”

Here is a timeline for the closure of Hartselle Medical Center:

• The hospital will stop admitting patients as of 5 pm on Wednesday the 18th.
• While the Emergency Department will remain open through Jan. 31 at 5 p.m., patients who come to the ER after 5 p.m. on the Wednesday who may require hospital admission will be transferred to another facility following assessment and stabilization.
• Any patients who remain hospitalized on Jan. 31 will also require transfer.
• Patients who have questions about existing appointments scheduled at HMC should consult their doctor or call the hospital’s main line, 256-751-3000.
• Prominent signage will be placed throughout the campus within the next week announcing these changes.