Changes are coming to Texas County Memorial Hospital clinics in 2026, board members heard at their monthly meeting Nov. 25. Clinics in Licking and Cabool are affected.
Bill Bridges, TCMH chief executive officer, reported that Emily Wiseman, a family nurse practitioner, will join the TCMH Family Clinic in February 2026. Wiseman comes to TCMH with eight years of experience as a family nurse practitioner and seven years as a registered nurse. Wiseman will see patients of all ages from birth to end of life. She joins Amanda Lemp, DO, and Whitney Hall, PA at the clinic in Licking.
“Emily is a hometown girl and has a strong passion for helping the people in her community,” Bridges said. “We are excited to welcome Emily, and we believe she will be a great asset to both our patients and the community.”
At the TCMH Cabool Medical Clinic, Stephen Hawkins, MD, has signed a one-year contract to transition from full-time to part-time practice beginning in February 2026. Bridges explained that the transition to part-time practice was at the request of Hawkins who has provided physician services in Cabool for over 30 years.
“The Cabool community has been truly fortunate to have a physician of Dr. Hawkin’s caliber for so many years, and his patients will continue to benefit from the legacy of health care he created,” Bridges said. “We are happy to help Dr. Hawkins embrace a partial retirement and the activities outside of his clinic and hospital work.”
Bridges noted that TCMH will continue to provide health care services at the Cabool Medical Clinic five days a week. Stephanie Thurman, FNP, also sees patients at the clinic in Cabool.
FACILITY UPGRADES
The TCMH Sleep Laboratory has received a significant upgrade in sleep study equipment, Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, reported at the meeting.
The new equipment offers improved brainwave detection capabilities for diagnosing central sleep apnea.
“The more detailed comprehensive sleep studies will enhance the quality of care we are able to provide our patients,” Pamperien said.
The equipment was part of the 2025 capital budget. The TCMH Sleep Laboratory is open five to six nights a week, and sleep studies are ordered via physician referral.
Board members approved expending $11,000 on a 30-degree tilt, 5-millimeter laparoscope for the TCMH surgery department. Dr. Sherry Phippen, general surgeon at TCMH, requested the new scope to better serve her patients’ surgical needs. The expense will be part of the 2026 capital expenditures of TCMH.
Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, informed board members that Hutcheson Pharmacy’s new point-of-sale system will go into effect on Dec. 9.
“This upgrade marks a major milestone for our pharmacy services and will greatly benefit our patients,” Owens stated. “The new system will include a variety of user-friendly features to help streamline the prescription process while providing enhanced prescription safety for our patients.”
ONLINE AUCTION
The annual online auction to benefit TCMH Hospice of Care is underway, and Bridges invited board members to join the TCMH Healthcare Foundation at a live auction celebration to culminate the event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at Piney River Brewing Company in Bucyrus. The event will showcase auction items in person, and there will be live final bidding as well as additional Christmas-related activities.
“We’re excited for our community to come together and support this wonderful cause,” Bridges said. “Hospice of Care provides crucial services to patients and their families, no matter their financial situation. Our annual auction is a fantastic way to help fund these important services, and we really appreciate everyone’s support.”
FINANCIAL REPORT
Pamperien presented the October financials, which reflected a slight decrease of $84,303 in overall revenues from budgeted monthly expectations.
October inpatient admissions were at 73, which are down in comparison to the admissions from the same time frame in 2024. There have been 809 admissions year-to-date.
The financial report reflected that the hospital’s profit/loss report showed a negative bottom line for October, with a decrease of $724,550 and a year-to-date loss of $2,086,068. The earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were negative at $461,527 and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $546,821.
Present at the meeting were Bridges; Pamperien; Owens, April Crites, quality and risk management; Helania Wulff, public relations and marketing director; Kristina Grant, DO, vice-chief of staff; and board members, Jim Perry, OD; Ross Richardson, Jerri Crump and Jennifer Hugenot. Board member Joleen Durham was not present at the meeting.
The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is at noon Tuesday, Dec. 23, in the hospital board room.