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Texas County Memorial Hospital received an official announcement from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) last Thursday, September 29, that the hospital has been approved for $332,000 in grant funds to benefit the new surgery center. The DRA is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to promote and encourage economic development. DRA’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives.
The funds come shortly after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development awarded TCMH a $1 million grant through the America Rescue Plan’s Emergency Rural Healthcare grant. This makes a total of $2,332,000 in federal and state funding for the new surgery center.
“The road to economic revitalization begins with strengthening a community’s infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and developing a workforce to meet local industry needs,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Dr. Corey Wiggins. “Delta Regional Authority’s $2.1 million investment will help boost seven projects in Missouri communities to enable economic growth and prepare the region for a prosperous future.”
“This investment from Delta Regional Authority will be transformative in strengthening rural communities in southeast Missouri,” said Governor Mike Parsons (R-MO). “Projects supported by these funds align with our priorities of improving infrastructure, developing our workforce, and growing our economy. We’re grateful for our state’s partnership with Delta Regional Authority as we work to broaden opportunities and improve the lives of all Missourians.”
“These investments will support key economic development projects, like expanding workforce training programs, improving access to health care, and strengthening local infrastructure,” said U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. “In Congress, I’ve been proud to support DRA’s efforts in our state, and I’ll continue working with them to ensure rural communities have the tools they need to compete and succeed.”
“I’m glad the Delta Regional Authority is making a significant investment that will improve health care, job opportunities, and the quality of life in southern Missouri,” said Rep. Jason Smith. “Whether it’s funding a new surgery center at Texas County Memorial Hospital, workforce training programs at Ranken Technical College in Perryville, or a new flood-resistant public safety facility in Van Buren, this investment will benefit families in communities across the district. I’ll continue supporting the Delta Regional Authority’s important efforts to help make our rural communities an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The surgery center shell located between the Jayson Gentry Community Safe Room and the hospital’s east wing is already built and in place. When the hospital constructed the safe room, it included space between the safe room and the hospital to build a new surgery department. The new surgery center is designed to house two operating rooms, an endoscopy suite, and pre-surgical prep and post-surgery recovery.
“A new surgery center will significantly enhance the delivery of basic, vital health services to the rural area,” Jay Gentry, TCMH office of projects and foundation, said. “Whether it is a mother undergoing a procedure during the delivery of a newborn or another patient receiving one of our 1,400+ surgical procedures per year, the members of our community deserve the best care, the latest technology, and an updated facility for their wellbeing.”
Jeff Gettys, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, praised the efforts of Senator Karla Eslinger and Governor Mike Parsons as they were instrumental in obtaining these funds for TCMH. “Senator Eslinger and Governor Parsons understand the importance of our local health system and our completed surgical center’s impact on the patients.”
Gentry explained that TCMH will use the DRA funds to purchase and install surgery-related equipment necessary to open the new surgery center. “We will start the process later this year to purchase an EGD scope, two Steris operating tables, two Olympus OER Elite reprocessors, and two Omnicell Anesthesia workstations.”
“We truly appreciate the Delta Regional Authority in selecting our TCMH health care system for their investment to improve health care for our residents and community,” Gentry said. “This investment is also projected to create one job and retain 16 jobs within our community.”
“Every dollar that’s given is an investment in our county, the hospital, and the people of this area and we are very proud that Delta Regional Authority chose TCMH,” Wes Murray, TCMH interim chief executive officer, said. “These funds will help the hospital move forward in completing our surgical center as well as our continued efforts to equip our patient care areas with the latest in technology to provide additional benefits to the people of Texas County.”
“A pre-bid meeting for the surgery center infill will be held at TCMH on October 18,” Gettys said. “Bids will be taken from interested contractors and opened on November 1.”
The health system expects the completion of the new surgery center in 2023.