Reprinted with permission from The Messenger.
By Lori Harrison, staff writer
Trover Health System’s plans include a new three-story medical facility that may be constructed near Regional Medical Center.
“We do not have drawings at this point,” CEO and President Bert Whitaker said Tuesday during a “stakeholder’s luncheon” at Trover Tower that marked the end of his first year leading the organization. “We still have individuals to talk to, doctors and nurses, to develop the plans.”
Three concept drawings of the building were displayed on easels.
The event was the first of what Whitaker plans will become an annual report updating the community about Trover Health System.
The new building would house an ambulatory service center, orthopedics center and doctor’s offices. Officials are considering building the facility south of Hospital Drive next to the railroad tracks.
THS owns 5 acres on the corner.
“We are right now assessing whether that’s all the land we need,” said Joe Miller, vice president of support services. If the location is used, that section of Hospital Drive may need to be reworked, he said.
Zoning issues, suitability of the site and engineering test results would also be considered. Trover officials expect to make a decision about the building site in about three months.
Construction would begin next spring at the earliest.
During the past year, Whitaker said, the organization has focused on building community trust, strategic planning, governance and medical staff development. Throughout, safety remained his top emphasis.
For the upcoming year, accountability will be the theme, he said. That’s one of the organization’s core values.
“We’re not going to be defensive about things brought to our attention,” he said.
Key strategies include communicating the organization’s mission and vision, building the “Trover team” through employee development and hiring enough nurses, creating a health care delivery system that more closely aligns the clinics with Regional Medical Center, and developing a “culture of growth,” Whitaker said.
“Right now, growing in my area is understanding that in 2007 there is competition for business,” he said. “Our services have to be more than adequate. They have to be excellent.”
Two specific areas in which changes have occurred this year are the emergency department and food and nutrition services.
Premier Health Care Services, which had managed physician services for the emergency department, announced earlier this year it would be pulling out, effective Sunday. Trover has successfully recruited five physicians to staff the department, including two who were already here, Whitaker said.
“We’ve always been running (the department),” he said. “Premier was staffing it for us. Now, we’re staffing it for ourselves. That’s the only difference.”
Food and Nutrition Services will be under the management of Morrison Healthcare Food Services, effective June 18. That’s when a new manager will be here and renovations of the cafeteria area will start, Whitaker said.
During the luncheon, Bob Brooks, vice president of education and research, presented detailed information about several programs, including the long-term partnership with Madisonville Community College health care programs, family practice residency program and the University of Louisville Medical School campus here where third- and fourth-year students finish their degree.
Jim McMurtrie, director of guest services, explained the concept of the guest services centers that have opened during the past year at RMC and Trover Clinic. They offer a “one-stop shop” to make payments, request medical records or x-rays, meet with patient representatives or meet with a financial counselor.
Not everyone is happy when they leave guest services, he admitted, but employees try their best.
“We want to let people know that we care about them, are listening to them, and will do what’s needed to meet their needs,” McMurtrie said.
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