Dr. Paul Thomas Speaks to Rotary Club

DR. PAUL THOMAS, MD AND SOUTHERN TENNESSEE REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM CEO MIKE HOWARD VISITED THE LAWRENCEBURG ROTARY CLUB ON FRIDAY.  DR. THOMAS IS A LAWRENCEBURG NATIVE WHO HAS BEEN PRACTICING ORTHOPEDIC MEDICINE IN NASHVILLE AND FRANKLIN FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS.  HE HAS RECENTLY RETURNED HOME TO JOIN SOUTHERN TENNESSEE REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM’SLAWRENCEBURG FACILITY.  DR. THOMAS IS ASSISTING SOUTHERN TENNESSEE REGIONAL TO UPGRADE ITS MEDICAL SERVICES THROUGH EQUIPMENT UPGRADES AND RECRUITING TOP MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR FULL TIME PRACTICE IN LAWRENCEBURG.  IN HIS FIRST MONTH OF LOCAL PRACTICE, HE HAS PERFORMED OVER 50 ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES AT THE LAWRENCEBURG FACILITY.  A NUMBER GREATER THAN ALL OF THE SIMILAR PROCEDURES PERFORMED LOCALLY IN 2022.  HOWARD HAS BEEN THE STRHS CEO FOR SIX MONTHS AND HAS RECEIVED $1.2 MILLION FROM THE HOSPITAL’S PARENT COMPANY TO INVEST IN STATE OF THE ART SURGICAL AND OTHER MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.  BOTH SPEAKERS DISCUSSED THEIR PERSONAL AND CORPORATE GOALS OF MAKING TOP TIER SERVICES AVAILABLE IN LAWRENCEBURG SO THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO COLUMBIA, FRANKLIN, OR NASHVILLE TO RECEIVE THE BEST IN MEDICAL CARE.  MR. HOWARD DISCUSSED THE CHALLENGES RURAL HOSPITALS FACE IN KEEPING UP WITH THE RISING COST OF MEDICAL CARE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH MANAGED MEDICARE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE UP A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR REVENUE.  HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH SEEKING LOCAL CARE WILL BE NEEDED SO THAT THE HOSPITAL WILL BE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUOUS INVESTMENTS NEEDED TO KEEP ITS FACILITIES UP TO DATE. 

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