Pickens County Medical Center in Carrollton is closing March 6.

The Pickens County Health Care Authority made the announcement, saying that existing patients will be discharged or transferred to other area hospitals on or before the closing date. The center is a 56-bed facility in Pickens County, located in extreme west Alabama along the Mississippi border.

Authorities said they are working with state and federal regulators on the hospital’s closure plan. The closure is happening because the hospital’s financial situation is unsustainable, authorities said.

“Additionally, for several years, Pickens County Medical Center has experienced declining patient volumes,” the Authority said in a news release.

“We wish to commend our dedicated staff members for their service to the hospital and the community,” the authority said in a news release. “For our staff members, we will be working with other employers to facilitate access to potential employment opportunities.”

According to the Alabama Hospital Association, 88 percent of rural hospitals operate in the red and 75 percent of all Alabama hospitals operate in the red. In all, 13 hospitals have closed in the last eight years, seven of which were rural.

Researchers at the healthcare analytics firm Chartis Group say that 12 of Alabama’s 45 rural hospitals are “most vulnerable” to closure based on several factors - including revenue, system affiliation and the lack of Medicaid expansion.