HCHC considering adding a hospitalist to its services

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County Health Center is considering a new specialty to its services ? a hospitalist.

?If you?re going to remain a hospital, this is a specialty you?re going to have to offer,? said Robb Gardner, HCHC CEO, told the board of trustees during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Hospitalists specialize in the care of patients in the hospital and see patients on a daily basis, often multiple times a day. For example, after a patient has surgery, the hospitalist would take over the patient?s care, being able to check on them more often than a surgeon would ? especially if the surgeon is a specialist from another location.

Gardner explained that the potential program has been under consideration for a while and has been discussed within the medical community and reviewed with community advisory groups.

?I think our patients will benefit in terms of having this new specialty,? said Gardner. He said the program would help sustain the current programs and possibly bring new surgeons or practices to the hospital.

As Trustee Jan Towne explained, having a hospitalist on staff could increase the number of services offered at HCHC. She gave the example of orthopedic surgery. Currently this service is not available at HCHC because there is nobody to fulfill care requirements for the patient after the surgery. However, a hospitalist could fulfill this role.

The trustees gave Gardner approval to develop a couple of business models, which he will bring to an upcoming board meeting for their review and possible approval.

?This is going to be the norm,? said Towne. ?I?d like to be ahead of the curve, rather than chase it.?

In other business, after approval by the board of trustees, Ron Clouse took the oath of office to fill the HCHC trustee seat that has been vacant since Rick Campbell resigned his position in April.

Clouse has been a member of the community for almost 25 years. He is a former plant manager for Mackay Envelopes and has been active and involved in the community, being involved in his parish, building Habitat for Humanity homes and taking part in the Kiwanis Club and other boards. He has also taken part in a community advisory group for HCHC.

?He also has a true, true gift in giving back to this community,? said Gardner. ?He wants this place to be a great place.?

Because Clouse is filling a vacancy, he will be up for re-election when the term expires, which will be this November. Other board members up for re-election are Bob Meyer and Megan Wenstrand.

In other business, the board:

? Heard an update on the facility building project. The energy center has an estimated final completion date of Oct. 16. The bid letting for the new surgery center is Sept. 20. Although the energy center will not be completed at this time, the electrical will be transferred to the new equipment.

? Heard a report on fiscal year 2012 from CEO Dave Muhs, who reported that although the hospital didn?t perform well this last year, in the end it was pulled together and he was surprised how well it turned out. The good news, Muhs said, is that the July financials look good so far.

? Gardner informed the board that HCHC had received the Most Wired recognition for the sixth year in a row.

? The board reviewed the fiscal year 2012 strategic plan and where the hospital met its goals.