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Doctors Memorial Hospital officials tell Perry council hospital is 'thriving' while seeking community support
Summary
Hospital leaders updated the City of Perry Council on financials, staffing, service expansions and community outreach, and said grants and local partnerships helped recent improvements including ER staffing changes, a new roof grant and a walking trail.
Doctors Memorial Hospital CEO Linda Faith McClark told the City of Perry council on April 22 that the hospital is "thriving" after two challenging years and highlighted recent improvements funded by grants and local hiring.
McClark said the hospital provided about $2,420,000 in uncompensated care last year, invested about $755,000 in capital improvements, and carries more than $12 million in annual payroll. She also said the hospital secured roughly $2,800,000 in grants in the last 18 months and received a $1,600,000 Department of Commerce grant to replace the facility roof.
McClark described changes in the emergency department after the hospital ended a contract with a third-party vendor and hired its own emergency providers: "Within 30 days, our quality metrics... improved, almost immediately," she said. She also said the hospital has expanded its swing-bed transitional-rehab program and added specialists, including a trauma surgeon who will come to Perry twice a month.
Sarah Grambling, identified in the meeting packet as chief operating officer and interim chief financial officer, and other staff answered council and public questions about services. On dialysis services — repeatedly raised by residents — McClark said the company that previously provided dialysis had been slow to commit space for services in Perry and the hospital is exploring other providers, including Fresenius, but that a local dialysis unit requires substantial space, equipment and training.
McClark invited council members and residents to tour hospital operations and promoted a free Health and Wellness Expo on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that she said will feature more than 45 vendors.
The hospital presentation was made under agenda item 6(a) and followed by public remarks praising recent patient experiences and asking about dialysis access. Council members voiced general support and thanked staff for improvements. No formal council action or appropriation was recorded during the presentation.
McClark and hospital staff provided handouts with the council packet showing the hospital's annual report, financial metrics and a list of grants and community outreach projects.
