El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 87, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 23, 1982 Page: 1 of 28
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Life Of FDR
Examined
—Page 14-B
WCJC Trustees Meet
—Page 2-A
Ricebirds Red Hot —Page 5-A
Lunchbox
Treats
—Page 3-A
t
Leader- N e ws
SVOBODA 1885
CITIZEN 1900
VOLUME 97 NUMBER 87
El Campo, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 23, 1982
T. *37
25 CENTS
3 SECTIONS 36 PAGES
Equipment Delays OB Unit
Monitor Needed To Re-Open Unit
By CHRIS BARBEE
Expedition in obtaining
necessary obstetrical equipment
and reading of the end-of-the-year
financial report were two topics
addressed Wednesday afternoon
by the executive committee of the
El Campo Hospital Authority
Board of Directors.
The executive committee met in
place of the full board this month
due to the annual dinner for the
board of directors hosted Wed-
nesday night by the Hospital
Affiliates Management Cor-
poration. The full board will meet
in February.
During a report on progress
made by the Physician
Recruitment Committee, Gary
Kendrick, administrator, said Dr.
William Hand, a family prac-
titioner, opened his office
Tuesday.
Kendrick said a fetal heart
monitor must be purchased,
however, before the obstetrical
unit of El Carnp^ Memorial
Hospital can be re-activated.
Board member Dr. Ron Goelzer
urged Kendrick to contact
companies that sell the monitor
since the money is available. “I’m
in favor of getting the equipment
as soon as possible,” he said.
Bob Premeaux, hospital con-
troller, reported on Memorial’s
financial status.
ECMH completed 1981 over
budget by $503,333. Premeaux
said $115,000 was due to the
lawsuit won by Dr. Angela
O’Connor, and another $45,000
was in legal fees. The bulk of the
deficit was a result of low patient
census, however.
“It’s not that we spent more
money than we had budgeted, we
just didn’t receive the patient
income that was budgeted,”
Kendrick said.
December was an especially
low patient census month. The
budget called for an average daily
census of 35, whereas only 23.8
was realized, which cost the
hospital $118,667 in anticipated
budgeted revenue.
Premeaux complimented the
administrator in his ability to
keep expenses down during
December. The administrator
saved the hospial $46,331 in funds
that had been budgeted for the
month, but due to a loss in
budgeted revenue, ECMH still
finished the month with a budget
deficit of $33,067.
The executive committee ap-
proved two recommendations
made by the medical staff. In the
past the medical staff and
hospital have recognized positions
known as consulting staff ana
courtesy staff, with the difference
being that the courtesy staff could
admit up to two patients per year
under their name in the hospital,
whereas the consulting staff had
no limitation on admissions.
The executive committee went
along with the medical staff in its
recommendation to combine the
two staffs into one by imposing a
limitation of two admissions.
“The limit is there because the
physician needs to be in at-
tendance to provide optimum
care,” Kendrick explained.
Physicians on the consulting and
courtesy staffs do not live in El
Campo.
In another medical staff matter
the committee approved the
staff’s appointment of Dr. Goelzer
and Dr. E.A. Weinheimer to its
executive committee as members
at large.
Kendrick addressed several
issues in his report to the com-
mittee
He said that Jim Welch
resigned as director of materials
management, but that a former
Gulf Coast Medical Foundation
employee, Johnnie Dornak, has
been employed to fill the position.
He will be in charge of pur-
chasing, inventory control and
central sterile supply.
Kendrick said Hospital Cor-
poration of America (formerly
Hospital Affiliates International)
has formed the position of public
relations staff specialist.
It is the specialist’s respon-
sibility to visit towns with HCA
hospitals and to visit with the
citizens in the town in order to
compile a survey to see how the
populace served by the hospital
thinks the hospital can better
serve the community.
“I think it should be done as
soon as possible. There may be
some weaknesses we don't know
about that can be corrected,”
John Hancock Jr., committee
chairman, said.
Kendrick also announced that
Health Awareness Week will be in
April and that the local hospital
will participate. “We are planning
on doing some things here. I think
it will be good, and I’m looking
forward to it,” he said.
Reporting on equipment pur-
chases funded by the Johnson
Foundation, Kendrick said Hotter
scanner and monitoring equip-
ment to be used by cardiologist
Dr. Carlos Zorrilla has been or-
dered at a cost of $25,500, as has
$40,000 worth of xeromamography
equipment.
The administrator reported that
the Joint Commission on Hospital
Accreditation will be at the
hospital on March 29 to review
deficiencies in the nursing service
cited last March.
“A year ago we had a few
problems, which have been
corrected,” he said.
Trustees Approve
Brooks Purchase
Trustees of the El Campo In-
dependent School District gave
the go ahead for purchase of the
Brooks Lumber Company
building located at 300 W.
Monseratte St.
Owned by Dick Brooks of
Houston, the building will be sold
to the district for $80,000 with a
downpayment of one-third and the
remainder financed at 12 percent
interest over 10 years.
The building, which needs
repair, will be used primarily for
storage and maintenance offices.
The board’s approval was near
LUMBER COMPANY
Proposed Purchase
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unanimous with the exception of
Michael Plentl, secretary, who
objected on the grounds that the
money could be put to better use.
“I think we have an obligation
to the taxpayers as well as the
students to use the money for
more urgent needs such as roof
repairs, contingency funds and
the special education building,”
Plentl remarked.
According to Thomas Hollis,
ECISD maintenance supervisor,
an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 in
repairs would have to be made to
the building over a period of time.
But he added that the value of the
building would be boosted to an
excess of $200,000.
Hollis said the 8,000-square-foot
area adjacent to the loading areas
could be used immediately. But
roofs and floors in other areas of
the building would have to be
repaired before they could be us-
ed.
The ability to buy products in
large quanities for less money
would help the building pay for
itself. Hollis insisted. The school
district’s storage capacity would
be trippled
Concerning the current
maintenance building. Hollis sug-
gested it could be used as storage
for the agricultural and athletic
departments and shop area for
small engine repair classes
In other business, trustees ap-
proved a 1982-83 school calendar
which features a two-week
Christmas holiday and a March 28
through April 4 spring break for
students
Teachers were allowed to make
calendar suggestions and the
adopted plan had been favored by
the administration. N'orthside
School and the high school
Correction
It was incorrectly reported in
Wednesday s edition of the
Leader-News under "short
stories that Frank J Hubela was
running for constable precinct 4
Actually Hubela is a contender for
justice of the peace We regret the
S-P-E-L-L-t-IS-G
I \ Itiuln M Hat Kin
Sixth grader .Michael Orsak concentrates on a
word radomlv chosen for him during a spelling
bee contest held at the N'orthside School
auditorium Wednesday afternoon. Michael plac-
ed as one of the top three spellers in the sixth
grade. Also pictured is Robin Collins. W inners in
each grade will receive trophies during “Public
School Week" in March.
Variety Promised
At Cotton Clinic
Good information, en-
tertainment and food is being
offered to all citizens of Wharton
County who attend the 27th
Annual W'harton County Cotton
and Grain Clinic Tuesday at the
Silver Wings Ballroom here
The clinic is one of the largest of
its kinds in the state and in the
nation
Tuesday's clinic will have
something for everyone Sponsors
of the clinic will open their Ixioths
to the public at II am Clinic
goers will be able to register for
door prizes to be given away
during tlx* day at many of the
booths
The only charge to attend the
clinic is a $1 registration fee for
those who plan In enjoy a catered
meal of barlas i»e beef beginning
at 5 top m
Dwight llolilh general chair
man of the cIuik will officially
open the (’linn at 2 p m lie will
tie followed by welcomes from
Jerry Collier president of the El
Campo f hamlier of < ortimcrre
and Agriculture winch sponsor*
the clime Mayor A <» Red
Miller of the City of El < aiiipo
and Dan Nklar Wharton < nuntv
judge
At 2 30 p m El Campo High
Seoul's talented German Folk
Dancers will perform
The audience will then he en-
tertained at 2:45 pm by Ben
Oldag, agri-news director of
KTRH Radio in Houston
A break will follow from 3:15-
4 15 p m . during which time door
prizes w ill be given
An address and video presen-
tation w ill Ire given at 4 15 p m by
Jean I’fluger of College Station
I’Huger is the crop insurance
director in Texas for the United
States Department of
Agriculture
The El Campo High School
choir will follow f’flugcr and lead
the clinic into the evening meal at
5 Jn p m
A men's quartet composed of
Hill Dowdcn Martin Hoke. Grady
Wadsworth and |.ntcncc Krueger
will entertain the audience for 15
minutes iieginning at A 15 pm
Tiiev w ill in- accompanied by Mrs
Walter Brewer on the piano
Molly Krayeirik will emcee this
venr * all cotton style show which
ha a» its theme. “These Cotton
I’icktn I lav*
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 87, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 23, 1982, newspaper, January 23, 1982; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth999998/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Wharton County Library.