Bill Bridges Takes Position as TCMH CEO

Texas County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees voted unanimously to make Bill Bridges the permanent CEO at TCMH in the closed session portion of the monthly meeting last Tuesday.

Bridges, a 33-year employee of TCMH, has been the interim CEO since February following the departure of Stace Holland. Bridges most recently served as the director of the TCMH emergency medical services department.

“I am honored to work with the Board of Trustees, physicians, staff, and community to lead TCMH into its next chapter and unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence,” Bridges said.

Bridges referenced the “legacy” of healthcare at TCMH, citing the hospital employees, physicians, and the community coming together over the decades. “It’s all about working together as a team, and with the support of the community and the dedication of our employees, together we will achieve the hospital’s goals.”

Bridges obtained a master’s degree in business administration from William Woods University in Fulton and served four years in the United States Navy.

Bridges and his wife, Shannon, own a small farm in Houston. Shannon is also a longtime TCMH employee, working as a technologist in the radiology department for 31 years. The Bridges have four dogs: a Bernedoodle, a Goldendoodle, two Yorkies, and a cat named Annie.

New physicians and the new clinic in Licking were a highlight of the July meeting.

Helania Wulff, TCMH physician recruiter, invited board members to an open house for Kristina Grant, DO, family medicine and obstetrics physician, scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Medical Office Complex in Houston.

Grant is a board-certified family medicine physician who sees patients of all ages from birth through the end of life. She will also provide obstetrics at TCMH.

Grant relocated to Houston with her husband, Jordan, in July. They have two sons, Ethan and Liam, who will attend Houston Middle and Elementary School.

“We are honored that Dr. Grant has joined our TCMH family and community,” Bridges said. “Her passionate commitment to patient care makes her a valuable addition to our healthcare system.”

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, presented the July financials, which reflected an increase of $474,358 in overall revenues from budgeted monthly expectations.

“Our inpatient volumes increased $115,843, an 8.9 percent increase, and our outpatient revenue increased $372,866, a 5.7 percent increase from our budgeted monthly expectations,” Pamperien said.

The hospital had 83 admissions in July, up 79 admissions from the same time frame in 2023.

According to Pamperien, monthly expenses were down $207,949 at TCMH., a 5.7 percent decrease.

The financial report reflected that the hospital’s profit/loss report showed a positive bottom line for July, with an increase of $1,592 and a year-to-date increase of $139,569. The earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were positive at $260,033, and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $1,577,357.

Bridges noted that the Licking Family Clinic grand opening went well, with a great turnout and support from the community.

Clinic staff began seeing patients on July 15. Whitney Hall, PA, is currently the main healthcare provider in the clinic. Hall sees patients of all ages from birth to the end of life and provides prenatal care for patients, delivering with Dr. Tricia Benoist at TCMH.

Amanda Lemp, DO, a family medicine and obstetrics physician, will move to the area and begin work at the TCMH Family Clinic in Licking later this month. Lemp will see patients of all ages and provide obstetrical care.

Bridges and board member Ross Richardson will attend the Federal Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., in September. The conference, organized each year by the Missouri Hospital Association, provides healthcare leaders with the opportunity to meet with federal legislators. “We look forward to the conference to speak about our healthcare priorities and advocate for our community,” Bridges said.

In other board meeting news, Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, reported that the hospital has met all the yearly requirements to retain the National Certified Gold-Level Safe Sleep certification.

“We are proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication to following the safe sleep guidelines,” Owens said. It is a privilege to be one of the few independent, rural hospitals with gold certification in the United States, as this program profoundly saves babies’ lives.”

Bridges reported the official relocation of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation departments from the annex building behind the hospital to the hospital’s south side.  The department utilizes the former surgery department, providing additional cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation equipment space.

Dr. William Wright, who provides clinical services for children with autism, will soon be relocating from the Medical Office Complex to the TCMH Office Annex, where he will see patients.

Present at the meeting were Bridges; Pamperien; Wulff; Owens; April Crites, quality and risk management; Trica Benoist, MD, chief of staff; Lydia Dixon, student intern; and board members Jim Perry, OD; Ross Richardson; Joleen Durham; and Jennifer Hugenot.

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, August 27, at 12 p.m. in the hospital board room.

Bill Bridges, TCMH Chief Executive Officer

Pictured from left: Dr. Kristina Grant; Liam, son; Jordan, husband; Ethan, son