A hospital emergency room in central Georgia will soon close its doors.

Flint River Hospital in Montezuma plans to close its emergency department on Sunday.

Some Macon County residents fear that closing the emergency room will mean longer ambulance trips for injured and ill patients to Perry or Americus.

The hospital said in a statement that changes in health care are forcing them to adopt a more efficient business model. That includes concentrating on specialized services like substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Hospital officials say they plan to convert the emergency department into a crisis-stabilization unit and also establish an urgent-care unit.

Montezuma is about 50 miles southwest of Macon.

Tags: health, Emergency Rooms, Georgia hospitals, hospitals, Montezuma, rural hospitals, Macon County, gpbwell, flint river hospital