LOUISBURG - Franklin County's only hospital has reached an agreement with the federal government over a series of violations that threatened its Medicare funding.

Wednesday, Franklin Regional Medical Center issued a statement saying the hospital had reached an agreement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to correct unspecified problems with patient care.

The hospital staff has until Sunday to prove that it has corrected the problems that would lead to the termination of Medicare payments. The agency rarely pulls payments after notice of violation and usually works with hospitals to correct problems.

Franklin Regional is a for-profit hospital owned by the Florida hospital chain Health Management Associates. In November, hospital officials announced plans to join with Rex Healthcare in Raleigh to build a replacement hospital in Youngsville, near the Wake County line.

Brian Gwyn, the hospital's chief executive, was replaced this week after a 15-month tenure.