Hospital adding rooms to ER wing

By Stephen Jones
sjones@casscountynow.com

CHRISTUS St Michael-Atlanta’s growing pains are about to get some welcomed relief.
During last week’s Lunch and Learn presentation, Administrator Thomas McKinney outlined the organization’s past success stories and plans for the future. 
With a 40 percent increase in patient visits, the hospital emergency room wing is expanding from five rooms to 10 rooms thanks to $150,000 in seed money.
Of these five ER rooms, there will be four specialty rooms and a separate entrance for major emergencies. Currently that is not the scenario. For example, a person with a gunshot wound is using the same entrance as a child with flu symptoms. McKinney said he expects the new additions will be completed around Christmas time.
Even though these renovations will take a few months to complete, that has not stopped the hospital from improving its services. McKinney stated the ER has recently been upgraded to a Level 4 trauma center, which means they now have the capability to save life and limb if the need arises. 
Another improvement includes access to teleneurology for stroke victims. The hospital can connect a stroke victim to a neurologist from anywhere in the country and communicate with the patient through a computer screen. Along with a cross-country diagnosis, a patient can be given a life-saving tPA (clot buster) in extremely volatile situations.
Extra improvements are also expected to be made to the CSMA Fitness Center, Rehabilitation Center and Home Health Center, which is planned to double in size. Ever since the hospital was incorporated into the CHRISTUS-St. Michael System in January of 2013, there have been more than $6 million worth of investments into improving its Atlanta facilities. 
The hospital currently employs 150 people, including nurses, all of which McKinney speaks very highly. 
“It takes a special kind of person to see people they know come in and still do their job,” McKinney said. “They know they can go from the professional side to the family side in a heartbeat.” 
McKinney added that locals can support the hospital through the continued use of the hospital’s services, giving productive feedback and telling CHRISTUS-St. Michael’s story, volunteering and supporting the 1115 waiver currently going through the Texas Legislature.
Following the official presentation Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce President Miranda Johnson praised the hospital. She said one of the first things a perspective citizen asks her about the city concerns the quality of healthcare in the area. She said her response is that CHRISTUS St. Michael-Atlanta is “a treasure for the community.”