craigdailypress.com

In May, The Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees hosted a special work session to discuss goals and objectives for the upcoming year.

Chief Executive Officer George Rohrich said one of his top priorities would be focusing on physician recruitment.

On Wednesday, Rohrich reaffirmed his commitment to seeing through recruitment efforts that began in the summer. He told the board that TMH is actively pursuing other doctors -- a general surgeon and two family medicine practitioners -- who have shown interest in relocating to Craig.

"Physician recruitment just kind of shuts down in the middle of December," Rohrich said. But, "we have some very viable irons in the fire."

Another target of TMH's recruitment efforts, Dr. Stanley Pense, a general surgeon, has already signed on and is scheduled to come to work at the hospital by the beginning of next month.

Physician recruitment is expected to resume in January, Rohrich said.

In other hospital news from Wednesday night's meeting, the board also approved buying a machine hospital officials said could be valuable to help spot lung problems.

The board approved buying a pulmonary function machine for $23,704, a purchase price at a 48 percent discount from its original tag of $34,175.

The machine measures lung volumes and gasses crossing the lung lining, hospital officials said. The machine will be valuable in diagnosing health problems for smokers and coal miners, board member Ron Danner said.

"It seems like a very positive (tool) for the coal miners in our area," he said.

The hospital's current system was purchased in 1998. Tests on the machine cost $546 and, on average, two tests are administered per month. Using those numbers, the hospital contends it will have the machine paid off in two years.

Joshua Roberts can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210, or jroberts@craigdailypress.com.