More than 500 area residents took part in grand opening ceremonies for the new expansion at Texas County Memorial Hospital on Thursday.  The festivities began in the morning with a Masonic cornerstone ceremony, followed by a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting in the afternoon and tours of the new construction that lasted until the early evening.

                “I am amazed that this day has finally arrived,” Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, said.

                Two years earlier, TCMH hosted a public groundbreaking on the same area with plans of building 59,000 square feet of new patient care areas including a new emergency department, radiology department, registration department and medical surgical floor.

                Murray thanked those present including dignitaries from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the Texas County Commissioners, the TCMH board of trustees, medical staff and employees for working together to bring improved healthcare facilities to Texas County.

                Omanez Fockler, chairperson of the TCMH Board of Trustees, reminded those present that the land where the hospital stood was once a field on the edge of Houston—purchased by Texas County from the Parmenter family—where the first county healthcare facilities were built and dedicated in 1958. 

                “I stand here today with a grateful heart at the many milestones of this hospital,” Fockler said.

                Fockler, a board member at TCMH for over 10 years and a former nurse that spent her career working at TCMH, reminded those present that she and the other TCMH board members have “deep roots in the county”.

“We take very seriously the job you’ve entrusted us with to provide oversight for the healthcare of the citizens of Texas County,” Fockler said, explaining that with the expansion project the hospital board “took advantage of a window of opportunity to move our county healthcare facility into the 21^stcentury.”

“It’s with great excitement that we move into this wonderful facility, an asset for everyone in our community,” Fockler said.

Janie Dunning, director of USDA Rural Development for the state of Missouri, was also present for the groundbreaking ceremony two years earlier.

“Rural Development made its first investment in this county hospital in 1979,” Dunning said.  “We take great pride in being able to help provide for the health and well being of our rural communities.”

Dunning explained that USDA Rural Development can provide the funding, and the hospital administration can provide the building, but “this is really all about the healthcare providers taking care of the patients,” Dunning said.

During the groundbreaking ceremony two years ago, Dunning met former TCMH employee and volunteer, Bonnie Burch.  Dunning explained that she and Burch developed a friendship, and Burch expressed to Dunning her concern that she would not see the new construction built.

              

  Burch passed away prior to the completion of the construction, but Dunning honored her memory, “Miss Bonnie, this is your dream came true.”

                Schaun Flaim, DO, chief of the TCMH medical staff and internal medicine physician at the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston, spoke on behalf of the medical staff.

                “I do not have roots in this county, but I did grow up in small town,” Flaim said.  “I know how important a facility like this is to the members of the community.”

                Flaim commended everyone for “pulling together to make this happen”. 

                “I look forward to being able to say that I’ve been here for 50 years,” Flaim said.  “And we all look forward to providing healthcare in this new facility.”

                Jeffrey Kerr, DO, emergency department medical director, reflected on the growth he’s seen in his 20 plus years of work in the TCMH ER.  He recalled working many years ago in an ER with four beds and doorbell for patients to ring after midnight.

                “Our new department has doubled in size from seven rooms to 15 rooms, and we anticipate rapid growth in the future of the ER,” Kerr said.

                Kerr explained that the TCMH ER is currently working toward special trauma and stroke designations, and the department plans to offer an urgent care during peak times in the new facility.

                Kerr noted that the new department has improved safety features, more patient privacy, and improved and integrated technology.

                “Our service area has also grown to a 60 mile radius from Houston,” Kerr said, adding, “Our service does not take a holiday.”

                “The teamwork here makes TCMH a special place,” Kerr said.  “Our staff is excited about giving of themselves to make us one of the best rural hospitals in the nation.”

                Following the speakers’ remarks, Murray invited everyone present to gather between the two canopies in front of the new construction for a ribbon cutting.  Members of the TCMH board of trustees shared the honors of cutting the red ribbon.

                Reverend Beth Duckworth, member of the TCMH Volunteer Chaplain’s Association, provided a blessing for the new front entrance before anyone entered the new construction.

                Tours of the new construction were given until early evening, drawing residents from all over the county, young and old.

                The second floor of the new construction—the medical surgical department—is not complete, but is expected to be complete in mid-June.

               

Renovation in the old portion of the hospital will begin this month as departments vacate their current locations and move into the new construction.

Texas County Memorial Hospital will host a public grand opening ceremony, including a ribbon cutting, for the 59,000 square foot expansion project on Thur., May 16^th at 1 p.m.

The event will be held in front of the new hospital construction entrance.  Following the formal ceremony and ribbon cutting, guests will be invited to tour the new facility.  The building will remain open for tours and refreshments until 6 p.m.

Prior to the public grand opening ceremony, TCMH will host members of the Missouri Free Masons in a Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony at 11 a.m. on the East corner of the new construction.

 Members of the Masonic Lodges of Texas County purchased the cornerstone, and John Broyles, deputy grand master of the Missouri Free Masons, will preside over the cornerstone event. 

The public is also invited to participate in the cornerstone ceremony.

The expansion–the largest in the hospital’s 55-year history–features two floors of new patient care areas.  The ground floor houses a 13-bed emergency department, a radiology suite and an expanded registration area.  The second floor features a 32-bed medical surgical floor with private patient rooms.  Additional renovation and remodeling will be done inside the hospital’s current structure as departments are moved to the new structure.

To fund the expansion, TCMH received an $18.1 million, low-interest loan from the United States Department of Agriculture.  The 59,000 square foot expansion was funded with $16.9 million, and the second phase of renovation was funded by $1.2 million in loan funds.

“I hope that everyone that’s interested will come out and take part in this very special day in the history of our county hospital,” Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, said. 

Construction of the new facility began in the fall of 2011.  TCMH will take ownership of the first floor of the expansion prior to the grand opening, but the hospital will not begin to use the new construction for patient care until after the grand opening.

Final work on the second floor of the new construction will continue to be in progress through mid-June, but visitors during the grand opening will be able to tour the second floor, too.  A small portion of the second floor, including patient rooms will be open for touring on May 16.

“We chose to hold our grand opening in between moving into the first and second floors so our community would have the opportunity to take a good look inside the new emergency and radiology departments as well as the new medical surgical floor,” Murray said, explaining that when the departments are opened for patient use, it would have been much harder to provide public tours.

Related renovation is beginning inside the current hospital.  When the affected departments vacate their current spaces into move to the new construction, renovation to create more space for many different TCMH departments will begin in earnest.  The renovation portion of the project should be complete by September of this year.

The cornerstone dedication and grand opening ceremonies are open to the public.  The hospital is located at 1333 S. Sam Houston Boulevard in Houston.

For additional information, contact Joleen Senter Durham, director of public relations at TCMH, (417) 967-1258.

Texas County Memorial Hospital has named Jay Glover of Cabool the April employee of the month.

Glover is a physical therapy assistant in the physical therapy department at TCMH, and he has worked for the hospital for nine years.  Glover was nominated for the award by medical surgical supervisor, Kristi Atkins.

“Jay is a person who enjoys what he does, and he encourages his patients to do their best,” Atkins said, adding, “The nursing staff also enjoys working with Jay.”

Atkins explained that Glover is “willing to help do anything”, and he is known for assisting nursing staff when needed.

“Jay promotes a sense of trust with the patients by maintaining their privacy and dignity,” Atkins said.  “He always reassures patients that they will be well cared for at TCMH.”

                As employee of the month, Glover received a certificate honoring his achievement; a pin; $100 cash; a special parking place in the TCMH lot; one day of paid vacation; a $50 gift card; gift certificates to Paws N Claws, D&L Florist and Janstiques, and cd of the month from Big Country 99.  A reception will be held at the hospital in honor of Glover.

                This is the second time Glover has won employee of the month at TCMH.  He previously won the award in July 2008.

Glover is now eligible for the 2013 TCMH employee of the year award.

In a special recognition event for all the nurses and certified nurse assistants (CNAs) that work at Texas County Memorial Hospital, two nurses and one CNA were chosen for special honors this week.

Texas County Memorial Hospital has named Melanie Evans and Chris Weaver, both of Houston, as the 2013 TCMH Nurses of the Year, and Modena Jones of Mountain Grove as the 2013 TCMH CNA of the Year.

Evans, a registered nurse for TCMH Hospice of Care, has been employed at TCMH for six years.

 “Melanie is an excellent nurse with strong leadership skills,” Courtney Owens, Hospice of Care supervisor and Evans’ supervisor, said. 

Owens explained that Evans is a “good mentor” to other nurses, and she is able to help out as a nurse in other hospital departments when needed.

 “I can count on Melanie to get things done accurately and in a timely manner,” Owens said. 

Weaver is a registered nurse working in the emergency department at TCMH.  He has been employed at TCMH for 15 years.

“Excellent nursing skills and knowledge enable Chris to lead and to collaborate with the physicians and the staffs of the emergency department and emergency medical services,” Jerri Sue Crump, ER nurse manager and Weaver’s supervisor, said.

Weaver serves as an instructor for required classes for nursing and ancillary personnel at TCMH.  He also serves as a mentor to new nursing personnel in the nursing department.

“Chris is a key part of the success of the TCMH emergency department,” Crump said.

Modena Jones is a CNA working in the medical surgical department at TCMH since 2005.

“Modena treats all patients with the best care she can give them,” Kristi Atkins, medical surgical department nurse manager and Jones’ supervisor, said.

Atkins explained that Jones serves on some patient care committees at TCMH in addition to her duties as a CNA.  Jones is also a preceptor to new staff in the medical surgical department.

“Modena’s patients can rest assured that all of their needs will be met,” Atkins said.

Each award recipient received $250 cash, a plaque, fresh flowers and a $25 gift certificate to Scrubs and Beyond.

Several employees from nursing departments throughout TCMH were nominees for the annual nursing awards.  TCMH nurses were nominated by hospital managers, physicians and fellow staff members for the annual TCMH Nurse of the Year award.  The TCMH nurse managers chose Evans, Weaver and Jones as the 2013 nursing honorees.

TCMH also recognized each nominee with a small gift.

Breakfast or lunch was served to all members of the TCMH nursing staff.

Scrubs and Beyond of West Plains came to TCMH to allow nurses and other employees the opportunity to shop for uniforms during the day. 

Nurses and CNA week are celebrated annually at TCMH.  Due to the current construction and planned move into the newly constructed departments, TCMH decided to combine both celebratory weeks into one. 

TCMH currently employs 113 nurses and 18 CNAs.  The nurses and their assistants work in many departments of the hospital—medical surgical, obstetrics, emergency room, surgery, intensive care, home health, hospice and clinics.

Ozark Independent Living has made a $25,000 donation to the Texas County Memorial Hospital’s “Care for Your Future” Capital Campaign. 

Serving Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Wright, Douglas and Texas counties, the Ozark Independent Living (OIL) offices are based in West Plains.  OIL is a non-profit, non-residential facility that serves area residents with disabilities. 

“We are always looking for ways to make our community more accessible and user friendly for our disabled residents,” Cindy Moore, executive director of OIL said when presenting the check to the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.

Care for Your Future is a $3.2 million capital campaign project to build a new surgery department and a tornado safe room at TCMH–about 10,000 square feet of new patient care areas.

OIL provided funds to specifically address accessibility issues surrounding the tornado safe room and the parking lot and sidewalks to and from the building.

“Our board looked at the plan for the building and costs for making it more accessible were presented,” Moore explained. 

Some of the members of the board of OIL have disabilities.

“Anyone that’s ever had to get around in a wheelchair knows the difficulties that can be encountered,” Moore said.  “This project is great way to provide better accessibility for disabled residents to a tornado safe room in Texas County.”

TCMH and the Healthcare Foundation also plan to utilize the tornado safe room as public meeting and community space when there is not a threat of inclement weather.

“Not every small town in our service area has a hospital,” Moore said, explaining that healthcare is a vital component to the quality of life of disabled residents.

“We are proud to have Ozark Independent Living participating in our vision for the future of healthcare in Texas County,” Jay Gentry, director of the Healthcare Foundation, said.

Gentry expressed that he and the Healthcare Foundation board members were “very happy” to partner with another non-profit service organization in the area to improve healthcare services and accessibility to those services. 

“We need donations like these to achieve our goals as a hospital and as a local community healthcare provider,” Gentry said.

OIL is funded by a grant from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of Missouri.  They provide the services of information and referral; peer support; skills training and advocacy for disabled individuals within their service area.  OIL has worked with TCMH in the past to increase accessibility in TCMH facilities.

Additional information about the services of Ozark Independent Living is available at 1-888-440-7500 or www.ozarkcil.com.

Texas County Memorial Hospital had $1,626,799 in excess revenues over expenses in 2012 the TCMH board of trustees and administration heard at the monthly board meeting on Tuesday.

Stephanie Weis, partner at BKD, LLP of Springfield, MO and David Taylor, senior manager at BKD, presented the annual audit report, explaining that TCMH was “in a strong position financially”.

Taylor pointed out that the positive bottom line included $858,865 in cash and pledges belonging to the TCMH Healthcare Foundation and $1,462,272 received by TCMH from the federal government for the adoption and implementation of electronic medical records within the hospital.

The growth of the Healthcare Foundation’s assets over the past seven years requires it to be included in TCMH financial statement.  In 2012 the Foundation embarked upon a $3.2 capital campaign to raise funds to build a tornado safe room and new surgery department which added to the funds held by the Foundation in 2012.

“Your Foundation is very active, having received $1.1 million in support from the community over the past two years,” Weis said, adding, “This is an exciting time for your hospital as you prepare to move into the new construction.”

                The auditors prefaced the audit with comments about the current “challenging healthcare environment”, explaining that the challenges were not likely to go away in the near future.

                Taylor explained that the electronic medical records funding continues to positively impact the TCMH bottom line, and he noted that the incentive funding goes down in 2013 and continues to dwindle annually.

                “With the new depreciation and debt and interest payments you are taking on, it’s going to be very tough in the upcoming years to continue to have a positive bottom line,” Taylor said.

                Taylor highlighted the fact that TCMH has 150 days of cash on hand.  “If the hospital stopped receiving payments, you would be able to keep the doors open for almost half a year,” he said, calling it “a tremendous accomplishment” that took many years of efforts to achieve.

                In 2012, TCMH saw a slight dip in their noncurrent cash and investments due to the purchase of Hutcheson Pharmacy, but the hospital’s property and equipment asset numbers jumped up 96 percent due to the purchase of the pharmacy and equipment for the hospital expansion. 

                TCMH liabilities are set to go up with the addition of debt from the new construction. 

                “This is a big burden to take on in future years, but you are in a very good position with a 30-year loan at 3.75 percent interest rate,” Taylor explained.

                The addition of new debt increased the hospital debt to capitalization percentage from just below 13 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2012.  However, TCMH still remains below the rural Missouri hospital average of 31 percent for debt to capitalization percentage.

“You are set to weather future healthcare changes much better than many of your peers,” Weis said, explaining that the new construction provides a “different starting point” for TCMH in comparison to other rural hospitals in Missouri.

TCMH is adding the expansion and renovation debt, but the average age of the TCMH facility will also drop dramatically with new equipment and space. 

Currently, the average age of TCMH equipment and facility is 14 years of age, and the rural Missouri hospital average is 9 years of age.  The older age of the TCMH equipment and facility was an indicator considered by TCMH in planning to upgrade patient care areas with new construction.  BKD projects that TCMH will fall into the rural Missouri average by 2013 with the new construction and new equipment purchases.

 “It’s important to remember that TCMH is not funded by any tax revenues,” Weis said, adding that many rural hospitals rely on tax revenues to fund one to three percent of operations.

“You are fully self-sufficient,” Weis said, “And that’s something to be proud of.”

Revenues continue to increase at the county hospital.  TCMH had $27,652,412 in revenues from services in 2012, a 5 percent increase from 2013.  Operating expenses and losses exceeded the revenues in 2012, but labor expenses remained flat. 

“This is good sign that your management has a handle on labor and the volumes needed to handle the costs associated with the patient load,” Taylor said.

According to the auditors, changes in reimbursement from the federal government provide a challenge at TCMH, and they accompany a large amount of uncompensated care the county hospital also provides.

Medicare and Medicaid–the largest payor groups at TCMH–generated $15.5 million in revenue for the county hospital, which are federal and state funds coming back to the county. 

Uncompensated care provided by the hospital totaled, $6,453,380, up from $5,652,305 in 2011.  This number is a reflection at the local level of the numbers of patients who are uninsured and unable to pay for their healthcare.

In comparing TCMH to other rural Missouri hospitals it was noted that TCMH continues to provide a wage and benefit package to employees that is competitive with the rural Missouri average. 

In 2012, the average salary expense at TCMH per full-time equivalent personnel was $46,263. 

The auditors explained that there are many “fixed costs” to healthcare, and due to “excellent management”, the cost per patient discharge rose slightly from $4,812 in 2011 to $4,994 in 2012.  The average cost per patient discharge in rural Missouri hospitals was $7,036.

Following the annual audit, gross revenue for the hospital in 2012 was $65,511,368 with a positive excess of revenues over expenses of $1,626,799.  

The auditors commented on federal healthcare changes brought on by the Affordable Healthcare Act and the American Taxpayers Act of 2012.

“Historically, the federal government has recognized that over one-third of Medicare recipients live in rural areas, making it difficult for rural hospitals to support capital and technological projects,” Taylor said.

Taylor explained that although some incentives have been provided to rural hospitals to make up for the number of Medicare recipients cared for by rural hospitals, many of the monetary incentives that directly impact the hospitals bottom line have been cut in recent years.

As of April 2^nd, TCMH and other hospital received an additional two percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement due to sequestration.  Taylor explained that these cuts create “an extremely challenging healthcare environment”.

Taylor stressed that the financial picture has been challenging in the past, and that there is a positive side for TCMH.

“You are in a strong position financially,” Taylor added.  “You have a great team in place to navigate these changes.”

Board chairperson and former longtime employee at TCMH, Omanez Fockler agreed that current times were not the first healthcare challenges faced by TCMH.  “With wisdom and tenacity, we will survive,” she said.

BKD sends an audit team to TCMH each March, spending about a week pouring over hospital financial information from the previous year.  The firm takes about a month to complete the audit information including income expense statements, balance sheets, statement of cash flows and other information that comprises the financial report documents presented at the April board meeting.

BKD uses historical TCMH data and data from other healthcare facilities for comparison purposes during the audit.  BKD also has access to the latest information regarding hospital payors which helps the firm reach concrete numbers in the final audit report.

Just before the 12 p.m. start of the monthly meeting of the TCMH board of trustees, a moment of silence was held at the hospital to remember Mark Forbes, longtime board member at TCMH that served until his term expired with the April 2013 election.  Forbes recently passed away following a long illness.

Prior to the annual audit report portion of the meeting, Omanez Fockler, chair of the TCMH board of trustees, administered the oath office to Russell Gaither, of Houston.  Gaither was elected in April to serve a five-year term on the TCMH board of trustees.

After administering the oath of office, Fockler took a moment to welcome Gaither Fockler explaining that she worked at the hospital as a registered nurse when Gaither’s grandfather, Wilbert Smith, served as a member of the hospital board of trustees.

 “As the TCMH board of trustees, we recognize the trust the citizens of Texas County have placed in us to provide the best possible healthcare we can provide to them,” Fockler said to Gaither about his role as trustee.  “It’s imperative that we work together for the common good.”

Hospital board members agreed that board officers for the 2012-2013 year would remain the same.  Fockler will serve as chairperson; Janet Wiseman will serve as vice-chairperson and secretary. 

                The new medical staff officers were also introduced to those present at the meeting.  Dr. Schaun Flaim is the current chief of the TCMH medical staff.  Dr. Matt Brown is the current vice chief of the TCMH medical staff.  Dr. Charles Mueller retains his role as the secretary and treasurer of the TCMH medical staff.

                Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, reported that the grand opening celebration for the new construction is slated for May 16^th at 1 p.m. 

                The first floor will be complete on May 16^th, and construction work will be ongoing in the first floor. 

                “Holding the grand opening at this time will allow members of the community to see a complete inpatient room as well as the new emergency and radiology departments before they are in use,” Murray said.

                Renovation in the current hospital will begin in the very near future, according to Murray.

                “We have made a few changes to our renovation plans that will save some money and make better use of our space,” Murray said.

                Members of the board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution to seek tax credits from the Missouri Department of Revenue for the construction of the tornado safe room and surgery department.

                “Our capital campaign continues to bring in funds, and we are just $300,000 shy of our $3.2 million goal for the campaign,” Murray said.

                TCMH attempted to pursue tax credits toward the construction project in past, but the request was denied.  A new possibility of pursuing tax credits was presented to TCMH through the South Central Ozark Council of Government, and a resolution was required by the TCMH board of trustees before TCMH could apply for the program.

                “We are not sure if it will be approved, but it’s certainly worth pursuing if it will help us reach our goal,” Murray said.

                Linda Pamperien, chief financial officer at TCMH, presented the financial report for March 2012 which showed a decrease in inpatient volumes and outpatient revenues at the hospital.  Expenses for the month were also down.

TCMH had a positive bottom line of $15,215.79 for the month of March, bringing the negative year-to-date bottom line to $152,822.98. 

Present at the meeting were Murray; Pamperien; Weis; Taylor; Flaim; Brown; Mueller; Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing officer; Joleen Senter Durham, director of public relations; Anita Kuhn, controller; Dr. John Duff, and board members, Fockler; Gaither; Jim Perry, OD and Mark Hampton.

Board member, Janet Wiseman, was not present at the meeting.                                   

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, May 28 at 12 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room of the hospital.

The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation plans to award over $5,000 in educational scholarships for the fall 2013 academic year.  The organization is currently accepting applications for the scholarships.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Educational Scholarship Program is designed to assist students that are pursuing or planning to pursue education in a healthcare related field or students currently working in healthcare that are pursuing additional education for their current career.

The Healthcare Foundation is in its sixth year of awarding scholarships in the fall and the spring.  Students from towns across the county have received the scholarships.

In addition to two scholarships from the TCMH Healthcare Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation will also award the “Dr. Joe L. and Judith T. Spears Memorial Scholarship” and the “Dr. Eugene Charles Honeywell Memorial Scholarship”.  Both are endowed funds that are awarded to a deserving student annually.

“Educational scholarships are a major focus area of the Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, stated.  “The board of directors of the Foundation recognizes the need to assist areas students in their educational endeavors with hopes that the student will return to or stay in the Texas County area to provide healthcare services to area residents after receiving additional education.”

Endowed scholarships provide some of the educational funds, and the Healthcare Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for the scholarship program.  The annual golf tournament is scheduled for June 8, 2013.

Eligible students for the scholarships must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited university, college or post-secondary training program.  Residents of the TCMH service area—all of Texas County and Mountain Grove—and students that are graduates of Texas County and Mountain Grove schools are eligible to apply.  Applicants already pursuing a career in a healthcare organization, or applicants planning to pursue a career in a health field with direct patient care are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The scholarship application asks for information about the student and requires a short essay about the student’s career and educational goals.  Applicants are also asked to list community involvement activities on their application, and they may be asked to meet with Foundation board members for a short personal interview.

The deadline for the fall scholarship applications is July 1, 2013.  Awards for the scholarship will be announced by September 1, 2013.

For more information about the scholarship program or to receive an application, contact Gentry by phone at (417) 967-1377 or by e-mail at jgentry@tcmh.org.  The scholarship application and complete details are also available at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

Texas County Memorial Hospital has received a letter of resignation from Charlie Rasmussen, DO, family medicine physician at the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston.  Rasmussen, an employee of TCMH since August 2007, is leaving TCMH for personal reasons.

“Dr. Rasmussen has decided it’s time to move on and explore other practice options,” Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, stated, calling it “a personal decision”.

Rasmussen will work at TCMH until August 12.  He also intends to continue to work as a physician in the TCMH emergency department as needed.

“We are a better organization for having Dr. Rasmussen’s services at TCMH for last 5 and half years,” Murray said.  “Dr. Rasmussen has been an important part of this organization and Stacey Rasmussen has been very involved in our Healthcare Foundation and with Hospice of Care.  We will miss them.”

Murray explained that he and Rasmussen have agreed to “leave the door open” should Rasmussen wish to return to TCMH in the future.

“Recruiting for rural areas is very difficult and retaining a physician is even harder,” Murray said.  “There’s a lot of competition for good physicians with the vast shortage of physicians.”

Rasmussen apologized for leaving TCMH explaining that he would miss patients and staff members at TCMH with whom he had “formed very strong bonds”.

“I would like to thank my patients for allowing me into their lives to participate in their healthcare,” Rasmussen said.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t stay.”

Rasmussen will continue to see patients at the clinic through August 12.  Debra Buckle, FNP, also sees patients full-time at the clinic.  Dr. Jonathan Beers, internal medicine physician at the TCMH Medical Complex, will be able to take on some of Rasmussen’s adult patients.  Dr. Joshua Wolfe, family medicine physician and obstetrician, joining TCMH in July, will be able to take on obstetrical and any other patients that are looking for a new provider.

“I will continue to provide care for the obstetrical patients I have,” Rasmussen said, “And I hope to see as many of our established patients as possible before I leave.”

Murray and the staff at TCMH are already working on a plan to continue to provide physician coverage at the clinic after Rasmussen departs.  A search for a full-time physician for the clinic is already underway.

Plans are underway for the eighth annual Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation Charitable Golf Tournament.  Tournament organizers are asking interested participants to save the date of Sat., June 8th with plans of attending the tournament at Oakwood Golf Course in Houston.

The tournament is a two-person scramble, and a team can play for $120, which includes a cart, green fees, mulligans and lunch.  Tee times on June 8th are at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the tournament is limited to 40 teams.

Prizes will be awarded in four flights with three places in each flight.  The number of entrants in the tournament will determine prizes and flights.

There will be many prizes awarded including a hole in one prize and prizes for the longest drive and closest to the pin.  Entrants will also be eligible for door prizes.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to ensure the quality of healthcare services for children, women and men at TCMH.

“The TCMH Healthcare Foundation golf tournament assists us in developing the funds needed for our scholarship program, and it helps provide resources for capital projects,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, stated.

The Foundation awards four $1,000 scholarships during the school year—two in the spring and two in the fall—since 2006.   The scholarships are given to students in the TCMH service area that are pursuing additional education in a healthcare field.

The Foundation is already accepting applications for two $1,000 scholarships and other Foundation administered scholarships that will be awarded for the fall academic semester.

For more information, or to reserve a place in the tournament, contact Gentry at (417) 967-1377.

The Texas County Memorial Hospital Physical Therapy department is asking area residents to lace up their sneakers and get ready run, walk or stroll at their family-friendly five kilometer fun run in Houston on May 4.

“Our team decided to host a fun run as a way to encourage families in our community to get together and enjoy an outdoor activity together,” Ellen Willis, TCMH physical therapy department director, explained.

Willis and her staff of five, along with numerous volunteers from TCMH, are planning and hosting the event for the community.

The fun run is open to all ages with specific categories for ages 10 and under, ages 11-19, ages 20-29, ages 30-39, ages 40-49 and ages 50+.  Prizes will be awards to winners in each division.

The 5K will begin at the upper pavilion at Emmett Kelly Park in Houston and wind through town, finishing at the same location.  Kids 10 and under will have the opportunity to participate in a different race course that is approximately one city block in length.

The Physical Therapy Team and other volunteers from TCMH will host a BBQ in the park following the 5K.

Registration for the event is $25 for adults and $20 for children, and registration includes a T-shirt with TCMH 5K in May logo.  Registration must be complete by April 15^th to receive a T-shirt in your correct size.

Registration for the 5K is 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.  The kids’ race will be at 9:30 a.m., and the 5K will begin at 10 a.m.  Prizes will be awarded at 11:15 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.

“We planned the TCMH 5K in May as a way to have fun in the community, but we also hope it helps us raise some funds for the Healthcare Foundation,” Willis said.  “We want to help the Foundation achieve their capital campaign goal in 2013.”

Registration forms are available at TCMH or by calling the physical therapy department at 417/967-1201.