The Perry County Medical Center Board of Directors evolved out of a dream of the old National Health Service Board. Through the years they have worked to improve the quality and availability of health care to the people of Perry County. For many years there was only one physician providing medical services in Perry County. He was expected to see patients in his office all day and treat emergencies and deliver babies all night.
National Health Service Corps physicians came, worked out their obligation, and left.
In 1978 the board applied for and received section 330 funds. The county government built a new 7,200 square foot building and upon its completion in November 1979 opened the Perry County Medical Center for business. We have a moderate complexity laboratory and x-ray services on-site.
Perry County is approximately 411 square miles in size and has a population of 6,842. Only 2.1 percent of the population is minority. The center of the county is Linden, a city of approximately 1,200. The proportion of the population 65 years or older exceeds the state average. The per capita income was $9,260 in 1990 with 23% below poverty level. The Tennessee and Buffalo Rivers flowing through Perry County offer opportunities for fishing, canoeing, and other water sports. The rolling pastures and woodlands are attractive to hunters. Perry County ranks 61st in population out of the 95 counties in Tennessee.
Current staff includes: Alex R. Johnson, DO, Medical Director; Barbara Heady, Executive Director; Gaye Hudson, MLT, LXT; Carmen Johnson, MLT, LXT; Billie Mayberry, LPN; Fay McCoy, LPN; Dana Tatum, Cashier/Transcriber; Cristal Odom, MR Clerk/Receptionist.