Hospital, Clinic in Full Compliance with Medicare/Medicaid; Doctor Network Increasing
CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital Sulphur Springs is once again in compliance with Medicare/Medicaid having more than met standards during a recent certification survey, according to Paul Harvey, hospital administrator. Harvey reported to the Hopkins County Hospital District Board Monday night during their regular session. Harvey updated the district board regarding activities at the local hospital. The Hopkins Hospital District owns 49% of the local hospital.
Harvey stated that the hospital staff had been intense in preparation for the final survey that would determine if the hospital could continue to receive Medicare/Medicaid payments for services. He also noted that rural health clinics are also surveyed every six years and the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic had also undergone a survey in recent months. There were compliance issues but those were resolved within the 30-day period required. Now, both hospital and clinic are in full compliance.
Harvey noted that as of January 1, 2017 all employees, 32 providers/doctors, at the clinic have successfully moved to CHRISTUS. He also announced the addition of Stephanie Quick as the new manager for the Medical Clinic. Quick has previous experience in clinic management in Shreveport, LA. The clinic has restructured the medical team leadership and has a six member review committee. He stated the local clinic joined at a time when CHRISTUS physicians increased from 370 to over 600 physicians including the addition of 150 physicians in Longview. The addition of physicians increases the network for doctors when making referrals.
Communication of medical records between doctors and hospitals in the CHRISTUS system is being aided by the addition of a software system, EPIC. Using EPIC allows a person to use an app on their smartphone when at any other clinic and hospital using EPIC. Harvey called the decision a good decision for the community providing a seamless information stream for providers of medical care. EPIC should be available at both clinic and hospital by September 9, 2017.
Hospital occupancy rates have increased in January and February. Harvey told the board that ICU is running near 100% full since early January. He noted the addition of new physicians could increase those rates as well. He stated currently two primary care physicians, an additional mid-wife, and a pain management physician are high on the list of needed physicians. He pointed out that the local urologist will also attract more patients with area hospitals losing their urologists in retirement or moving to a new location out of area.
Vascular Clinic to Be Open Once a Month at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Todd Bengtson, M.D., brings his decades of experience in Vascular Surgery and Ambulatory Medicine to the patients of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Sulphur Springs and across Northeast Texas. The first Vascular Clinic day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Dr. Bengtson will continue to see patients at this location the first Wednesday of each month. His office will be located at 113 Airport Rd., Ste. 300, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 – located within the General Surgery offices.
To schedule an appointment or gather more information about Vascular Medicine, please contact 903.606.1400.
42 Tourney Winners at Seniors Center
New DQ in Town
A second location for Dairy Queen in Sulphur Springs opens Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 1419 South Broadway. A soft opening was conducted Monday in a fund raiser for the Sulphur Springs High School Band. DQ hours are 10 a.m. unti 10 p.m.
“Updated” Thunderstorm Warning for Western Hopkins County
The warning ended at 2 p.m. with light rain falling in western Hopkins County. The storm’s intensity diminished as it moved through the area.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
122 PM CST MON FEB 27 2017
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
East central Hunt County in north central Texas…
Western Hopkins County in north central Texas…
* Until 200 PM CST.
* At 122 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located near Greenville, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD…Quarter size hail.
Wind Speed: 50 mph
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Damage to vehicles is possible.
* Locations impacted include…
Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Cumby, Campbell and Lone Oak.
This includes Interstate 30 between mile markers 101 and 125.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from
windows.
Weapon in Vehicle Must Have Been Left There by Another
Cumby Police made a traffic stop on I-30 at the 110-mile marker Sunday. A marijuana grinder was observed in the passenger seat and the odor of marijuana was coming from the 2012 Chevy Impala. The driver, Geremi Coroell Hoskins, 27, of Garland presented the officer with an ID but had no driver’s license. That was the beginning. Hoskins said he was driving a borrowed vehicle.
A citation was written for no Driver’s License and for drug paraphernalia. Then the Cumby officer asked Hoskins if there was anything else in the vehicle. Hoskins said, “No.” With consent to search, the officer found a semi-automatic .38 pistol in the console. Hoskins claimed it wasn’t his but must have been left in the vehicle by his friend who loaned him the vehicle. A check on Hoskins showed him to have a felony conviction on his record.
Hoskins is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Unlawful Possession of a Fire Arm by a Felon and is being held on a $10,000 bond.
The Unknown Proved to be Methamphetamine
Hopkins County Deputy responded at a call regarding a possible overdose Saturday evening. Parents of Cameron Blayne Davis, 18, gave the deputy a plastic baggie with several white pills identified as Xanex and two unknown capsule pills. It was the unknown that created the problem.
Davis was seen by EMS but refused treatment. He was left at home to sleep. However, when the unknown pills were tested, they proved to be methamphetamine. When Davis was arrested Sunday at 6:30 p.m. he told the deputy he believed the unknown pills to be “Molly”.
Davis is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram and is being held on a $10,000 bond.
SSISD Open House Schedule March 6-9
Sulphur Springs ISD Open House Schedule was released Monday by Rusty Hardin, Assistant Superintendent. The district invites parents and the community to visit the schools during Open House week.
Below is the schedule for each campus:
ECLC – Monday, March 6, 2017 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Douglas – Monday, March 6, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
SS High School – Monday, March 6, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
SS Middle School – Tuesday, March 7, 2017 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
SS Elementary – Tuesday, March 7, 2017 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Bowie Primary – Thursday, March 9, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Lamar Primary – Thursday, March 9, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Travis Primary – Thursday, March 9, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
At Cooper Lake Two Arrested for False Information Given Deputy; Nine sited for Paraphernalia
At the south boat ramp and FM 2285 at Cooper Lake, a Hopkins County Deputy on patrol observed nine individuals smoking marijuana. The deputy wrote citations to all for possession of drug paraphernalia. However, Zakary Seth Taylor, 17, of Sulphur Springs provided false information following the advice given by Logan Wes Houk, 17 of Sulphur Springs.
Zakary Taylor
Houk knew that Taylor was a felon and told Taylor to say he was Houk’s cousin and use that name. At the time, Houk and Taylor were picked up by their parents and taken home. The deputy discovered the false information and arrested Houk for Hinder Apprehension or prosecution of a Known Felon. Taylor was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3, less than 28-grams in a Drug Free Zone, Fail to Identify Fugitive Intent Given False Information, and for possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Logan Houk
Houk is in Hopkins County Jail being held on a $15,000 bond. Taylor’s bond’s were set at $15,000.
