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Plans for new EMS headquarters taking shape
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Jim Turner - photo by Courier file photo

Fundraiser successful

LRMC CFO Sam Johnson reported $20,000 raised from the Music on the Marsh fundraiser last weekend.
“We’ve raised more money in this event than we have at any other,” Johnson said.
“It’s getting a little bigger and better every year,” added LRMC marketing director Rene Harwell. 

Survey crews finished up this week at Liberty County Regional Medical Center’s new emergency services headquarters building. Site design still is being worked out, according to EMS Director Jim Turner.
LRMC officials met with county engineer Trent Long on Wednesday and discussed plans to replace the 30-year old building on Main Street.
The new, single-story building will be across the street from the current facility, but planners aren’t sure how big the building will be.
“Because of rights-of-way and the ditch that runs [in] the back of the property, we have to wait for [the county engineer] to figure the usable amount of the property,” Turner said.
The project is in the beginning phases, but the plan is to have two primary vehicles and some backup units operating out the building.
A construction company has not been chosen, but as soon as the site design is done, land can be cleared.
“We hope to start as soon as possible,” Turner said. “[The] timeline will be up to the contractor.”
West Rehab Services, Inc. is working on a new Main Street building but it has no connection to the hospital, according to Turner.
Land already has been cleared and the rehab building will be finished later this year, according to a sign at the site.
After receiving a $72,000 grant last month for a new ambulance, EMS officials hope to snag another grant to replace the laptops in all the trucks.
Patient care reports are done in all the ambulances, so Turner estimates they need about 10 systems.
“Hopefully that’s probably going to save us in the neighborhood of $35,000,” Turner said.
The hospital still is awaiting news on a pending VA clinic, according to LRMC CEO Scott Kroell.
Charleston, S.C.-based Ralph H. Johnson VA medical center is in charge of establishing a local clinic.
“No word I’m told with our consultants from Washington,” Kroell said.
Hospital Authority member Mayor Jim Thomas said he is also waiting to hear from national leaders on Fort Stewart’s 5th brigade.
Thomas said U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston told him he would bring up the issue at an Armed Forces appropriations meeting Wednesday.
“Hopefully we’re still on somebody’s radar,” Thomas said.
In other hospital news, LRMC is putting together a bereavement committee for a memorial garden at the hospital.
Chief Nursing Officer Donna Cochrane said they’re starting with a budget of $300.

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