Trigg County Hospital will soon be in possession of a new MRI machine — one that produces even sharper, clearer, higher resolution images.
During Thursday night’s board meeting, members unanimously approved to enter into a contract costing $16,000 a month for the new equipment. The decision comes on the heels of the hospital’s previous contract, costing around $10,000, coming to a close.
CEO John Sumner advised the board that keeping an older machine was an option for cost-saving measures. But after discussions with both resident and incoming physicians, the benefits of an upgraded service would better impact not just the hospital fiscally, but local and regional patients physically.
Sumner added that while absorbing the cost of an MRI unit could be a negative, having locals find those procedures elsewhere would be more of a problem.
He also noted that if Trigg County Hospital ever lost those services, they would be very difficult to replace.
In other hospital news:
— Dr. Peter Doll, a podiatrist from Henderson, will start June 1. Sumner said he’s willing to be in Cadiz one day a week, and will make that two days a week should the need arrive.
— Originally slated to start in April, Dr. Ellie Jolly, of Cadiz, will start August 1. Sumner said he was hoping to have her placed in the new offices being renovated at the Save On Drugs location, but that the refurbishing timeline has been delayed. Jolly will likely begin her career in Trigg County at the rural health clinic.
As for the Save On Drugs sprucing, Sumner said there has been some on-site progress, with sheet rocking to begin next week. However, a couple of different drawings went out to some contractors, and the board approved some specific rebidding in order to clarify the work needed.
— A 1% loan has finally been approved for the hospital roof replacement, but in the time it took for loan approval, the cost of roofing increased. The board unanimously approved a $509,000 tag from Swift Roofing. Sumner said the 20-year loan can be paid back at any time.
— In an update on more private rooms in the Trigg County Hospital, Sumner said that all framing, rough-in plumbing and the windows are done. Most of the electrical work is completed, and what remains is sheet rocking, flooring and installation of oxygen units for triage and care.
— Under advisement from Sumner, the board also unanimously approved to bid out “lock-and-key” rights to the old Bostick building, which is set to be renovated through federal COVID-19 funds. The building was used as a COVID area during the height of the pandemic.
Sumner said the building project must be completed by December 31, or the money gets returned to the federal pool unspent.
