Hospital plans grand opening for new Licking Family Clinic

Texas County Memorial Hospital has a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for the new TCMH Licking Family Clinic, board members heard at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.

“We are excited about the new clinic’s positive impact on the people of Licking and Texas County,” Bill Bridges, TCMH interim chief executive officer, said.” “Having the opportunity to create a lasting impact in our community and contribute to its advancement is an incredible honor and privilege for all of us at TCMH.”

According to Bridges, $1,690,000 of funding for the new clinic came from the Missouri Department of Economic Development through the Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 (CDBG-CV) program. The Licking project was one of 41 in the CBDG-CV program that were funded for a total of $41.2 million. These projects for Missouri communities helped prevent, prepare for and respond to the lasting effects of COVID-19.

“We truly appreciate the city of Licking partnering with TCMH to pursue this grant opportunity and receive the funds on behalf of TCMH,” Bridges said.

TCMH recently renovated the former 8,400-square-foot Sturgeon Chevrolet building, which will now house the new TCMH Licking Family Clinic. The clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including an X-ray facility, laboratory services and a phlebotomy station. It features three healthcare provider offices, nine examination rooms, a procedure room, three nursing stations, a mass infusion room, drive-thru testing and vaccinations and covered drop-off facilities.

At the new TCMH Licking Family Clinic, we are proud to have Whitney Hall, a dedicated physician assistant, continuing her family medicine practice. She provides complete care from birth to the end of life. Joining Hall at the clinic is Amanda Lemp, DO, a family medicine and obstetrics physician, who will start her practice at the new clinic in August. Lemp will provide family medicine to inpatients and outpatients from birth to the end of life, including practicing obstetrics. Lemp and her fiancé, Andrew, are planning a July 20 wedding and will relocate to Texas County from St. Joseph, Mich..

“TCMH is committed to the well-being of the Licking community, and we are pleased to have recruited a physician of Dr. Lemp’s caliber,” Bridges said. “We are confident that Dr. Lemp will make a valuable addition to our Licking Family Clinic team and community.”

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 11, including a public open house with tours of the new clinic. The first day of healthcare services in the new clinic will be Monday, July 15.

April Crites, TCMH quality and risk management, reviewed quarterly patient satisfaction scores with board members.

TCMH overall patient satisfaction scores have increased at the hospital, with a 2.59 percent improvement in inpatient satisfaction, a 7.21 percent increase in emergency room satisfaction and a 2.13 percent rise in outpatient surgery satisfaction over the past three months.

“Our healthcare providers, nurses, dietary and communication have all experienced heightened levels of patient satisfaction,” Crites said.

Crites presented the hospital’s 2023 Medicare spending per beneficiary measure score. She explained that this measure considers several factors affecting Medicare spending, including the patient’s age, health status and geographic payment differences.

“In 2023, the hospital ranked better than the national average of one with a score of 0.95,” Crites said. “In comparing year over year, the hospital improved from its 2022 ranking of 1.04, which missed the national average goal during that year.”

Crites noted that the hospital’s updated star ratings will be published on Medicare’s “Care Compare” website in July. “The hospital’s patient survey rating has remained at four out of five stars for the second consecutive year, and we take great pride in this achievement,” Crites said.

“This rating indicates the high standard of care that our patients consistently receive within our healthcare system.”

Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, announced that Tim Martin, a licensed clinical social worker, has been hired as the full-time Hospice of Care social worker.

“Tim will conduct home visits for hospice and home health patients,” Owens stated.

“Additionally, he will reintroduce the grief support program, which has previously proven to be highly beneficial for community members coping with loss.”

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, presented the May financials, which reflected an increase of $1,233,080 in overall revenues from budgeted monthly expectations, a 15.4 percent increase.

“Our inpatient volumes increased $223,065, a 17 percent increase, and our outpatient revenue increased $1,092,773, a 16.8 percent increase from our budgeted monthly expectations,” Pamperien said. “Our emergency room increased significantly with over 1,000 visits in May.”

According to Pamperien, the hospital had 78 admissions in May, up 71 admissions from the same time frame in 2023.

The financial report reflected that the hospital’s profit/loss report showed a positive bottom line for May, with an increase of $219,105 and a positive year-to-date of $137,976. The earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were positive at $469,239, and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $1,317,323.

Present at the meeting were Bridges; Crites; Owens; Pamperien; Helania Wulff, marketing, public relations and physician recruiting director; and board members Ross Richardson; Joleen Durham; and Jennifer Hugenot.

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 30 in the hospital board room.

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