A troubled hospital in the Panhandle has been shut down by the state.

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration suspended the license of Gulf Pines Hospital yesterday, a week after it was ordered to stop admitting new elective patients.

Gulf Pines is the only hospital in Port St. Joe, a town on the Gulf Coast east of Panama City.

Only one patient remained to be transferred from the 45-bed facility late last night. Emergency medical personnel have been diverting emergency patients to other hospitals in the area.

The agency cited high staff turnover, financial instability and staff shortages.

The hospital's troubles include the recent resignations of its administrator, medical director and director of nursing, which left
only three doctors on the hospital's staff.