On Monday, January 29, 2024 the Titus Regional Medical Center (TRMC) Board of Managers met for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting.  The meeting was opened with a prayer given by Senior Pastor Chris Wigley of Trinity Baptist Church.  Pastor Wigley shared details of Trinity’s upcoming event, Night To Shine, that will offer a red carpet experience to local individuals with special needs and their families.  This event is part of an initiative from the Tim Tebow Foundation and includes over 300 local volunteers, including TRMC providing a dedicated EMS Team for any needed medical assistance.

The Board recognized Neurologist Dr. Saud Khan and TRMC Stroke Coordinator Martina Ramirez for their recent successful survey of the Titus Regional Stroke Program from the Joint Commission.  Dr. Khan shared, “We are seeing the fruits of the hard work done by this team since 2014.  The entire health system is behind the program and works as a team.  While we always have room to improve and grow, we are excited about the results we see every day.”  The surveyors specifically mentioned the efforts being made by Emergency Department nurses and how involved they are in this program.  Chief of Staff, Dr. James Bove, complimented the program by saying, “Dr. Khan sets the bar high and has helped ensure success of this program, showing a rural hospital can excel in Stroke Patient Care.”

In other business, Shirley Dickerson from the Titus County Appraisal District presented a proposal for expansion of the Appraisal Office current building.  TRMC is a taxing entity with the Appraisal District but does not have voting authority.

CEO Terry Scoggin reported TRMC EMS is receiving six (6) new UHF and six (6) new VHF radios from Motorola purchased through DSHS Governor’s extraordinary emergency fund.  This will replace the fleet’s end of life radios.  The new radio system is P-25 compliant, ensuring continued interoperability with all agencies.  The new mobile radios include the ability to connect to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi giving TRMC the ability to utilize not only radio towers to communicate, but also broadband in the future.

Scoggin also presented local health equity data which demonstrated needs in the community driving leadership to seek a grant for a Rural Residency Program.  This initiative will differentiate what TRMC is doing from area competitors by focusing on health needs and disparities.  TRMC plans to start the resident programs in 2025 with a Rural Internal Medicine Residency and a Rural OBGYN Residency.  TRMC will be the only Rural OBGYN residency in Northeast Texas.  TRMC will seek to add a rural Family Medicine Residency program in future years.  We expect forty residents onsite once the Residency Program is at full capacity.  TRMC will host four Medical Students from ARCOM in Fort Smith, AR and two from Sam Houston University’s Medical School starting in July 2024.  Medical students onsite is step one in building the foundation for a residency program.

Dr. Bove updated Board of Managers of TRMC Medical Staff Committees for calendar 2024 and announced Dr. Michael Henry would serve as TRMC’s Medical Staff Vice Chief of Staff for calendar 2024.

Scoggin updated the Board of Managers on the TRMC Foundation Grand Gala scheduled for April 27, 2024.  Net proceeds from the event will be focused on improving Cancer Care in OUR community.

TRMC finished the first fiscal quarter of 2024 above budget by $484K (1.62%).  TRMC reported EBIDA of $815K.  CFO Andy Fortenberry updated two fiscal projects in process to continue improvements in hospital billings systems and national benchmark opportunities.