Back in the late 1940's, the community helped form Loris Community Hospital and now they have a say in a potential merger.
On November 1, voters will decide whether they want McLeod Hospital System to combine operations with the Loris system, which includes Loris Community Hospital and Seacoast Medical Center.
Signs are up all over Loris encouraging voters to pass the measure. Voters in 47 precincts in the Floyds, Green Sea, Little River, Bayboro, and Simpson Creek area have a say in the referendum.
Loris hospital already has a relationship with McLeod but the measure would further solidify their partnership.
"Some of the things we're looking at improving are the orthopedics, cardiology, a number of service lines enabling us to recruit physicians to the area and enhance some of the services we already offer," said Celeste Bondurant-Bell with Loris Community Hospital. She added many other hospitals are coming together in part to deal with health care reform.
Loris is a special purpose district not for profit facility, essentially a public hospital.
One person has filed a complaint against the proposal saying the merger would take away public accountability from Loris because McLeod is privately-owned.
