There was no shortage of concern among Trigg County Hospital staff, and its board of directors, about the cost of creating a new cardiac clinic.
In a Thursday night update, however, TCH President & CEO John Sumner said the first estimate of real money for the opening month was $150,000…and that’s only going to improve.
Fredia Smiley, Trigg County Hospital’s chief nursing officer, said referrals were coming in from Murray, Princeton, Hopkinsville and Oak Grove. Another scheduler is going to be hired to be on staff.
Cardiology isn’t the only recent boom, either. Sumner said that podiatrist Dr. Peter Doll has been so successful, and so heavily sought, that he’s moving from once to twice a week visits in Trigg County.
He’s booking 25 patients a day, and will be both Wednesdays and Thursdays by October 1. Calculations, Sumner added, estimate Doll brings in $100,000 of annual revenue for the hospital, and that’s expected to double.
As of this week, he’s booked out past to October — with a waiting list and expected in-house wait time.
In other hospital news:
— Trigg County’s ultrasound equipment is booked out until mid-September. Under Sumner’s suggestion, board members approved for the seeking of bids on a second such machine, which could run at a minimum of $75,000.
— According to Sumner, don’t be surprised if TCH starts offering a dermatology focus in clinics.
— Smiley also said the new CT scanner is “phenomenal,” and that 15 computed tomography angiography scans were completed in the first week alone. Sumner, however, confirmed the new MRI machine won’t arrive until December at the earliest, with final drawings for its installation still under review. As a holdover, the board unanimously approved for another mobile MRI be brought in at the cost of $52,000. Sumner said the hospital averages 7-to-8 MRI’s weekly.
— Work has begun on a new conference and training room, with a footer and pad poured at roughly 1,000 square feet. Sumner said framing will begin next week, as another addition for the hospital.
— Sumner noted the new parking lot is complete, but a a minor water leak will have to be investigated. It is treated unmetered water, he said, but no city drawings show a line in the area.
— A shortage of paramedics remains across the United States, Sumner said, and Trigg County is no different. With three positions open, two applications are currently in hand, and a third will likely be an in-house PRN coming on into the fold. Sumner added that an unspecified bonus has come to this unit, while others are prepared for the training.
— Board members also approved the surplus of some leftover hospital beds and stretchers in storage.
