Message from the President
I am pleased to report that 2008 was a very successful year for Lewis County General Hospital/ Residential Health Care Facility. Many improvements were made throughout the facility, including the expansion of services and the acquisition of new state-of-the art equipment. Expansion of our Laboratory Department was completed and several new pieces of equipment were added in this area to allow our staff to perform more tests internally, which results in improved evaluations and reduced turn-around time. In addition, we are now providing pathology services in-house rather than having this service provided by an outside vendor. In response to an identified need within the communities we serve, a Sleep Lab was opened on the main campus of the hospital. This program reduces the need for individuals who may be suffering from sleep disorders to travel outside the area and also allows them to receive appropriate testing in a timelier manner. The convenience of this new program has been met with great enthusiasm. Construction is currently underway for a 700 square foot building to accommodate a new state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit. This will replace the currently leased mobile trailer unit. The new equipment will offer physicians daily access to this potentially life-saving technology and ensure comfort and safety for our patients. This $1.4M project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2009. Other improvements made during 2008 included: • PillCam SB video capsule testing, which provides a less invasive alternative for screening of the small intestines • Acquisition of a high-tech newborn infant simulator for use during newborn resuscitation training program for staff. • Installation of Omnicell medication dispensing systems, which are designed to improve patient safety as well as improve workflow and inventory control. • Completion of an elevator improvement project. • Acquisition of a new handicapped accessible medical transportation van. • Acquisition of bladder scanning technology for the nursing home and hospital • Installation of a resident wander system, which provides our nursing home residents with a safer environment. I look forward to 2009, which will provide an even greater opportunity for enhancing and improving our services. We will be looking at new opportunities, which will continue to make our facility a leader in healthcare. Eric R. Burch