TCMH Receives Two New Ambulances Through County Funds

In February, Texas County Memorial Hospital received two new ambulances for the emergency medical services department, board members heard at their monthly meeting on April 2.

The Texas County Commissioners approved the purchase of the ambulances with Federal funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funding was signed into law in 2021 for state and local governments to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vehicles are 2024 type three ambulances purchased from Osage Industries in Linn, MO. The purchase price of each ambulance was $172,035.

TCMH ambulances travel an average of 6,100 miles per month and remain in service for several years. With the addition of the new ambulances, TCMH will retire two current ambulances, which are over eight years old and have covered more than 500,000 miles each.

“We would like to express our gratitude and recognize the Texas County Commissioners for generously providing us with these ambulances for our healthcare system,” Bill Bridges, TCMH’s interim chief executive officer, said.

Bridges noted that the new ambulances enhance current emergency medical services. “These ambulances will help us better serve the healthcare needs of Texas County residents, and we appreciate the Texas County Commission helping us fulfill our mission.”

TCMH has four ambulance bases staffed 24/7 in Houston, Cabool, Mountain Grove, and Licking. Missouri licenses TCMH EMS staff; all EMS personnel are certified in basic life support and pre-hospital trauma life support. Paramedics are also certified in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support. TCMH currently has 21 full-time and five part-time staff members. In addition, the Licking ambulance base will receive a new base as part of the renovation in the former Sturgeon Chevrolet building for the TCMH Licking Family Clinic, which is expected to be completed in June.

Bridges reflected on the new surgical center ribbon cutting and grand opening on March 29.

“We were thrilled to see so many people at the TCMH surgical center ribbon cutting and grand opening,” Bridges said. “We are excited about the possibilities it opens for us and look forward to continuing to serve our patients with the best healthcare possible and to have the latest technology in a new surgical space for our physicians to use.”

The $3.7 million project of the 7,000-square-foot surgical center comprises a pre-operative and recovery area, semi-private and isolation accommodations, two surgery suites, a procedure suite, and a central sterile department.

Bridges said funding from the USDA, Delta Region Authority, state appropriations, South Central Ozarks Council of Governments, a community improvement district, and donations from the community made this incredible milestone possible.

TCMH employs two full-time general surgeons, Hollis Tidmore, MD, and John Harrington, MD. The TCMH obstetrics physicians also use the surgery center for Cesarean sections.  Additional physicians also provide surgical services for ophthalmology, podiatry, and orthopedics at TCMH.

Bridges said the surgical center will undergo state inspection on April 15. If the inspection process is completed without issues, TCMH will begin operations on April 17.

Board members approved expanded orthopedic surgery privileges for Sylvester Youlo, MD. Youlo sees patients at the TCMH Outpatient Specialty Clinic the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Youlo provides orthopedic consultation services as well as providing some orthopedic procedures.

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, presented the financial report for February. Overall revenues for the month were up $236,829, a 2.9 percent increase. Outpatient revenue was also up $544,129, an 8.4 percent increase from budgeted monthly expectations.

According to Pamperien, the hospital had 86 admissions in February, up 55 admissions from the same time frame in 2023.

Pamperien reported that overall monthly expenses were down $421,142, an 11.5 percent decrease.

“One of the contributing factors in our reduced expenses was a $25,000 reduction in employee overtime for the five pay periods in 2024,” Pamperien said. “Our hospital staff is committed to watching their departmental bottom lines while providing exceptional care to our community.”

The financial report reflected that the hospital’s profit/loss report showed a positive bottom line for February, with a gain of $43,471 and a year-to-date gain of $135,484. The earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were positive at $275,167, and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $594,377.

Present at the meeting were Bridges; Pamperien; Courtney Owens, chief nursing officer; Helania Wulff, marketing, public relations, and physician recruiting director; April Crites, quality and risk management director; Tricia Benoist, MD, chief of staff; board members Jim Perry, OD; Joleen Durham; and Ross Richardson.

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, April 30, at 12 p.m. in the hospital board room.