Trigg County Hospital’s Board of Trustees approved a trio of likely improvements for the healthcare facility during Thursday night’s meeting — addressing ambulances, the main hub’s HVAC system and a developing cardiology wing.
President & CEO John Sumner noted the panel has stayed “well ahead of the curve” with emergency vehicles. Two have recently been decommissioned, two brand new boxes with zero miles are waiting in the county garage, and bids have been put out for a four-wheel-drive emergent-run ambulance and a new remount on an existing chassis.
However, Sumner noted that rural Cadiz and Trigg County would succeed with an all-wheel-drive, non-emergent transit ambulance or van, because it could be used for all of the non-life-threatening transfers made throughout west Kentucky, southern Indiana and northwest Tennessee.
Sumner noted that at the cost of $108,000, the hospital could acquire one. A paramedic remains in the back with the patient, and an EMT would be in the front. It would still be outfitted for emergency response if absolutely necessary, but rather would serve as a comfortable ride for non-critical times. Sumner added it would be great for small events like the Trigg County Country Ham Festival, and now the bid process is underway.
In a recent discovery, Sumner confirmed the HVAC on top of the hospital not only controls nearly 60% of the building’s output, but that it’s 24 years old after being installed during the 1999 project.
A recent estimate, he said, quoted the full replacement at $138,000, and that working on it now — as opposed to another hot summer or extremely cold winter — would be prudent. Trustees approved not only for the bid ask, but for a review of the state contract price for comparison.
And over the last two months of meetings, trustees have been nodding toward the addition of a Trigg County Hospital Cardiology Clinic. Sumner said the upfront cost in Year 1 would be close to $400,000, and around $200,000 in Year 2.
After that, it’s his belief the wing would generate a profit.
Most of the actions required for the conversion costs less than the $40,000 threshold for public bids, save for two: a new Computed Tomography Angiography machine and a new ultrasound. Trustees approved the seeking of both.
In other hospital news:
— Created in 1992 as a requirement for drug manufacturers to provide outpatient needs, Sumner said the 340B Drug Pricing Program netted the hospital more than $690,000 last year. He noted that it “wasn’t as much as some years, but still helpful.” The program also allows for eligible healthcare facilities and hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs at a 20-50% discount.
— And according to Sumner, Trigg County Hospital’s revenue has nearly doubled over the last eight years: from $14-plus million in 2015, to almost $27 million in 2023.
Growing services, he urged, has created a parking problem in front of the hospital, especially Tuesdays-Friday.
Architects from Rogers Group recently delivered a drawing, showing how it could be all be improved with some tweaking and redesign.
No action was taken on this measure because the changes couldn’t be made until May at the earliest, but Sumner said this plan as-is would cost roughly $90,000. The addition of another entrance/exit off of Main Street, or elsewhere, would require water and other related studies, and thus would make the project’s cost escalate.
