The Hunt Memorial Hospital District Board of Trustees learned that a planned expansion of the Commerce hospital has been sidetracked.
During Tuesday’s HMHD trustees’ meeting, Hunt Regional Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Richard Carter said that plans for expansion of the Commerce Hospital including building a new lab at a cost of $320,000 “need to be changed immensely”.
“That’s not feasible,” he said, explaining that rules prohibited a new building being attached to the old hospital.
He added that the board would need to discuss what to do in Commerce at a later board meeting. “Do we do nothing — or build a new hospital at the cost of 10 to 12 million dollars?” Carter asked.
Board member Frank Janda said he believed Commerce should be expanded since a company has announced an expansion that could bring a 1,000 jobs to the community.
After the meeting, on Wednesday, Hospital District communications director Jack Gray clarified the hospital status saying that a feasibility study had been done to build a new lab, but it was not feasible. Instead the hospital layout was rearranged to provide lab space. He added that building a new hospital would require a great deal of additional planning. “The Commerce hospital is a Critical Access Hospital, meaning the location cannot change,” Gray said. “That would be the challenge in rebuilding.”
Jeri Rich, Chief Financial Officer, reported that the number of patients at both Commerce and Greenville was below forecasts during May. “It was the lowest of the year (for any month) in Commerce,” Rich said.
In other action, the trustees gave approval to increase the budget of the Hunt Regional Medical Center Podiatric Surgical Program from $189,000 to $228,753. Most of the increase was for salary raises that the program director, Dr. Steven Brancheau, said were necessary to keep the program competitive in bringing in top residency doctors. He added that the program will still operate in the black while bringing prestige to the hospital. Brancheau said that the three residency doctors saw 630 patients with foot and ankle injuries in the ER during the past year. He hopes to increase the number of residency doctors to six by 2012. The salary increase will go from the current $32,000 a year for a first year residency doctor to $42,000 next year and the current $36,000 for a third year residency doctor to $46,000 next year.
Carter said that a clinic in Royse City on the west side of Hunt County was still planned. Carter said that a member of the medical staff had questioned whether that was a wise investment — that patients might opt to head west for medical care, but Carter said he still feels that growth in Royse City and Caddo Mills make it viable.
Dr. James Sandin, Assistant Administrator for Medical Affairs, echoed those sentiments. “I would disagree that we can’t attract those patients,” he said, adding that he used to have a large number of patients from that area when he had an active practice.
Documents presented at the meeting indicate the district hopes to open a minor care clinic in 2010, an imagining and rehab center by 2011 and a surgery center in 2011 on district owned property on the east side of Royse City.
The board set July 28 as the date of their budget workshop. The workshop will take place at 5 p.m. before the regular monthly trustees’ meeting.
Local News
HMHD: Hospital addition ‘not feasible’ at this time
- Local News
-
-
CISD School Board announces special session for May 31
Commerce ISD Board of Trustees announced a special meeting for May 31 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the CISD Professional Development Room at 3315 Washington St.
-
Annual golf classic to benefit college scholarships
The 42nd Annual Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Scholarship Golf Classic will be held on June 8 Sand Hills Golf Country Club, one of the top-rated nine-hole golf courses in the state of Texas. Check in will begin at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon.
-
Community turns out to ‘save the library’
More than 50 people, including the newly-elected Mayor Dr. John Ballotti, attended the “Save the Library” event on May 17 held at City Hall. The event demonstrated the services the library offers to the citizens of Commerce and informed citizens of a project that will restore the 95 year old building and make it handicap accessible.
-
Perry slated to make local stop
Texas Governor Rick Perry plans to visit downtown Greenville this week.
Perry will be appearing at the Landmark on Lee Street, 2980 Lee, at 5 p.m. Wednesday. -
CISD Board of Trustees to meet Monday night
The Commerce ISD Board of Trustees will meet at 6:15 p.m. in the CISD Board Room tonight. The board will recognize the CHS valedictorian and salutatorian, consider an appointee for CISD Board of Trustees Place 7, and receive an update on Communities In Schools.
-
Harvey receives CISD award
Scott Harvey of KETR FM was recently named to the 2012 Media Honor Roll by Commerce ISD. Sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards, (TASB) the Media Honor Roll program recognizes reporters statewide for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools. Media representatives from more than 470 Texas newspapers, radio and television stations and online publications were honored by their local school districts.
-
Commerce Lions event raises funds, helps children
On May 8, Commerce Lions Club held their 46th Annual Commerce Lions Club Carnival in downtown Commerce. Proceeds from the event went towards charities and projects they support, such as the Commerce Skatepark Project and vision clinics.
-
New officers sworn in, council updated on sewer
Mayor John Ballotti was sworn in as mayor at the Commerce City Council meeting held on May 15. Newly elected Emma Martin and incumbent Sue Davis were sworn in to City Council Places 2 and 4, respectively.
-
'Save the Library' meeting set for 7 p.m. May 17
The Commerce Public Library is holding a town hall meeting May 17 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting, titled "Save the Library" will discuss the necessary steps in resoring the 95 year old building to its 1972 condition, the year the library took the building over from the city. The library used to house the Commerce Post Office, which is now next door.
-
Dr. Johnson receives Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW
Dr. Robert E. L. Johnson was awarded the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) Lifetime Achievement Award at the April 26 Social Work Profession Day awards luncheon.
- More Local News Headlines
-
CISD School Board announces special session for May 31
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
