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As medical care became more complex and licensing laws changed the administration recognized the need to recruit more RN's to staff and supervise patient care. A nursing scholarship was begun in 1972 to assist with tuition each year for hospital employees who were interested in becoming RN's and who planned to work at Decatur County General upon graduation. As the hospital continued to grow new departments have been added or expanded. Decatur County Emergency Medical Service was added in 1973 and has continually been upgraded to being a Grade A Service staffed by Paramedics. Lab and x-ray have been moved into new and larger areas. A CT scanner, Mammography and Ultra-sound services have been added. New outpatient services include Urology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology, and Podiatry. The intensive care unit was changed to an Out-Patient Surgery area in 2000 and a new Surgery Unit was built. In 2006 a chapel was opened with money donated by a patient in honor of Dr. Vikki Murphy. Decatur County General Hospital currently employs 146 with an annual payroll of $4.7 million making it one of the largest employers in Decatur County. It has an annual operating budget of over $9.5 million. The total assets of Decatur County General Hospital are approximately $7.1million. Community service is of major importance to the administration of the hospital. It is a Partner in Education with Decatur County Middle School and provides many services to the school. Since 1984, and annual Health Fair has been held by the hospital and provides free health screening. A blood chemistry test is provided for a nominal fee. Between 300-400 people take advantage of the fair each year. A lighted walking track and landscaped park with several picnic tables were built on property behind the hospital building in 1998. The hospital is a member of the Chamber of Commerce & Decatur County Health Council / Delta Grant Initiative. It holds Community Blood drives for Lifeline Blood Services. The employees, as a hospital group, volunteer for Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) & for Decatur County World's Largest Coon Hunt for St. Jude. And participate in many other service entities.Larry N. Lindsey has been the Administrator of the hospital since 1972. The current Board of Trustees include: Robert Raney, Chairman; Bryan Keeton, Vice Chairman; Marty Willis, Secretary. Delmar Ballinger, Collins Pratt, Dale Scott, and J. Wayne Stanfill.