WCHC purchases new equipment

WASHINGTON - The Washington County Hospital and Clinics board of trustees approved three purchases at its meeting Thursday afternoon.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the meeting was open to public but members of the board were encouraged to call in to prevent spread. Staff members already in the facility attended.

A podcast where Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Todd Patterson recapped the board meeting was released on the hospital's website. Among the approved items were a $14,769 osmometer from Cardinal Health.

'It allows patients to stay in-house for testing rather than be transferred out,” he said.

The board also approved the purchase of a Hoyer lift that will allow employees to lift a patient up to 600 pounds. The lift came at a cost of $5,237. A stretcher for the Emergency Department was also approved at a cost of $8,047 from Stryker Medical.

Patterson gave an update on the MRI machine replacement happening at the facility. Currently any patient who needs an MRI will have one done in a van parked in the hospital's lot.

'We are waiting on the new MRI and magnet equipment which will be installed in early June,” he said.