MEEKER | “It looks like the hospital is off to a very good start (in 2019),” was an early comment during the Feb. 26 Pioneers Medical Center board meeting. The board saw a degree of quick return on the hospital’s investment in the Mako Total Knee Robotic-Arm, as well as its nuclear medicine program, and was updated on PMC’s planned expansion.
The $1 million dollar Mako unit is state of the art technology that greatly assists in knee replacement and hip surgery, making these procedures much easier and more efficient for the surgeon and assistants. Since Jan. 8, seven knee replacements and two hip surgeries have been performed by Drs. Kevin Borchard and Dan Ward. Additional procedures are already scheduled through April.
Other additions to PMC orthopedics starting in late April or early May include a hand surgeon and ortho/joint specialist, as well as the possibility of a shoulder specialist.
Additional evidence of PMC’s growth was reflected by the current Chief-of-Staff, Dr. Christopher Williams, who presented names of several doctors being recommended for “privileging.” Hospital privileges are the authorization that allows a physician to perform certain procedures, operations or even to admit a patient. Such privileges are granted based on education, residencies, fellowships, practice experience and competency.
Dr. Williams also announced that Dr. Kellie Turner would be present at the next PMC board meeting as the new Chief-of-Staff.
A final demonstration of PMC’s steady growth is the launch of the much anticipated —and long-time coming—nuclear medicine program (see the separate story in this issue of the Herald Times).
The architectural design phase of the $7.7 million hospital expansion has also begun. Preliminary drawings have been made to add two additional operating rooms, three recovery rooms, six in-patient rooms, eight clinic exam rooms, and one procedure room.
The board will see “several iterations of these drawings in coming months, but the important part of this is to see that it is all in process,” CEO Ken Harman commented. He anticipated that full construction drawings will come in June followed by contractor bids in July. “Our July board meeting should be an exciting one,” he added.
By Doc Watson | Special to the Herald Times
