TCMH Director Receives Stroke Award from Cox Health

Texas County Memorial Hospital’s education director and stroke coordinator, Jason Mayberry, was awarded the prestigious “Stroke Excellence Award” at the Cox Health Stroke Conference on December 13, board members heard at their monthly meeting.

Mayberry received the award from Benjamin Lisle, MD, a neurologist at Cox Health in Springfield. Lisle praised Mayberry for his exceptional contributions to stroke treatment and prevention in Texas County, highlighting the significant impact of his work.

In addition to his position at TCMH, Mayberry serves as president of the Association of Stroke Coordinators, a multi-state group of stroke coordinators who lead discussions on stroke care, best practices, and networks.  Mayberry’s influence extends to the State of Missouri Time Critical Diagnosis Advisory Board, where he is one of 16 representatives for the State of Missouri who meet monthly to discuss and make recommendations to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services about TCD regulations and statutes. Mayberry also serves as vice chair of the State of Missouri TCD Advisory Board Stroke Subcommittee, which meets to discuss best practices, clinical guidelines, and data collection to submit to the TCD Advisory Committee.  He is also one of four TCD Advisory Board Steering Committee members who meet monthly to discuss meeting agenda items. Mayberry is also a member of the Missouri Hospital Association TCD Stroke Subcommittee and attends monthly meetings held by MHA to discuss changes in stroke care in the State of Missouri.

“This distinction was awarded to only two individuals, with the other recipient being a Cox employee,” Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, said. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Jason on the TCMH team.”

Owens said that whenever stroke activation is called at TCMH, Mayberry responds by going to the emergency room and ensuring everything is managed according to plan. He analyzes the situation and provides guidance on where adjustments can be made to improve and expedite care.

“It requires a complete team effort—spanning radiology, laboratory, the emergency room, and emergency medical services—to achieve success in stroke care,” Owens said. “Jason is able to coordinate this process, ensuring that everyone collaborates effectively and follows a strong activation plan.”

“Although my name is on the award, it truly belongs to the amazing staff at TCMH who care for our stroke patients,” Mayberry stated. “Even though we are a small rural hospital, we accomplish many great things, and I am proud to work alongside such incredible staff at TCMH.”

Bill Bridges, TCMH chief executive officer, praised Mayberry upon receiving the award. “Jason works diligently to ensure our stroke patients receive treatment that aligns with nationally recognized, research-based standards and recommendations. This approach can speed recovery and reduce the risk of death and disability,” Bridges said. “We are very proud of Jason’s accomplishments, which have significantly improved stroke care in our rural community of Texas County.”

Board members looked at and approved the capital and operating budgets for 2025.  The capital budget is $1,309,033, slightly higher than previous capital budgets due to some significant projects that will be completed in 2025.  Large ticket items and a contingency fund of $70,000 comprise 85.7 percent of the total capital budget.

The 2025 capital budget includes an Omnicell upgrade of $288,000. Omnicell is an automated system in the emergency room and medical-surgical departments that provides medication management to reduce errors and waste, improve accuracy, and save time. The TCMH pharmacy will add a unit dose packaging system for $25,000. This system will allow the pharmacy to purchase bulk medications and repackage them for distribution with Omnicell.  The bulk medication purchases will save TCMH money.

Other significant expenses in the capital budget include sleep lab equipment, totaling $66,445; a new ambulance for $35,000 – portion not covered by grant funding; $33,640 for stress testing equipment; replacement of a Steris scope cabinet in the surgery department totaling $42,864; a new salad bar for dietary totaling $10,000; new monitors for medical-surgical, intensive care unit, and emergency room departments totaling $170,532; $272,876 in technology updates; and $19,046 for an infant warmer for the obstetrics department.

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, noted that some of the capital items may be covered by grants, if possible, in 2025.

The 2025 TCMH operating budget projects a 5.2 percent increase in inpatient revenues, a 5.1 percent increase in outpatient revenue, and a 5.3 percent increase in emergency department revenue. Other anticipated revenues are a 4.5 percent increase in Hutcheson Pharmacy and $32,000 for selling generators that will be replaced.

Pamperien reported that in 2025, TCMH anticipates additional expenses for a full year of onboarding for new physicians Dr. Kristina Grant and Dr. Amanda Lemp and additional maintenance and sleep lab staff. The operating budget shows a 5.4 percent increase in operating expenses, including a three percent merit increase and an additional full-year depreciation expense of approximately $20,000 per month for the new surgery center and new Licking clinic.

“We are being super conservative on our capital and operating budgets this year, and our goal is to break even in 2025,” Pamperien stated.

The board of trustees approved the 2025 capital and operating budgets as presented.

Pamperien delivered the financial report for November. Overall revenues for the month decreased by $69,153, less than one percent. Inpatient revenue decreased by $86,103, and outpatient revenue increased by $44,277 compared to the budgeted expectations for the month.

The hospital had 89 admissions in November, up 63 from the same time frame in 2023, and has 836 admissions year-to-date.

The hospital’s profit/loss report showed a net operating loss of $286,358 for November, with a year-to-date loss of $689,569. The earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were negative at $22,316, and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $2,074,167.

In other news, Pamperien said the new Hologic Horizon DXA bone densitometer for the hospital’s radiology department will arrive on January 2 and is expected to be fully operational by mid-January.

Present at the meeting were Owens; Bridges; Pamperien; Helania Wulff, public relations and marketing director; April Crites, quality and risk director; Trica Benoist, MD, chief of staff; Natalie Koch, human resources director; Will Smart, CRNA; and board members Jim Perry, OD; Ross Richardson; Joleen Durham; Jennifer Hugenot, and Jerri Crump.

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