TCMH signs three-year contract with full-time Hospitalist

Texas County Memorial Hospital has signed a three-year contract with Gregory Gibbs, DO, internal medicine physician, board members heard at their monthly meeting Tuesday. 

 

Gibbs will work as a full-time hospitalist at TCMH. Bill Bridges, TCMH chief executive officer, shared the news, explaining that the addition of Gibbs would "strengthen the hospital's inpatient medical team and provide additional support for hospitalized patients".

 

He will follow a seven-days-on, seven-days-off schedule, working opposite weeks with Amit Shah, MD, family medicine physician, and Sabera Shabnam, MD, family medicine physician, who provides hospitalist coverage during the alternate weeks.

 

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Gibbs to TCMH,” Bridges said. “Having a full-time hospitalist provides an important resource for our patients, our medical staff and our clinic providers.”

 

The addition of Gibbs is part of TCMH’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and broaden the medical staff and to ensure access to quality health care services for patients throughout Texas County and the surrounding communities.

 

In other news, TCMH recently completed its Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) survey. The in-depth, federal survey is conducted every two years to evaluate the laboratory’s compliance with federal standards for quality and accuracy in laboratory testing.

 

The laboratory team worked extensively to prepare for the survey, reviewing and updating policies, procedures and processes to ensure they were current and reflected the high standards the department maintains.

 

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, said positive feedback from the surveyor during the survey was encouraging as the hospital awaits the final report.

 

"The lab at TCMH is very busy for the size of our hospital, and we are proud of the team's efforts to provide accurate, reliable and timely testing that meets federal laboratory guidelines," Pamperien said. 

 

The TCMH laboratory provides testing services for the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient departments and for patients with laboratory needs from the TCMH clinics.  

 

April Crites, TCMH quality and risk management director, shared patient satisfaction highlights with the board.

 

Surgery satisfaction scores increased 9%, inpatient satisfaction scores increased 6%, and emergency department satisfaction scores dropped 5%.

 

Positive patient comments highlighted teamwork and professionalism, as well as the work of Sherry Phippen, MD, TCMH general surgeon, the anesthetists and the surgery staff. 

 

“Patient feedback gives us an important opportunity to recognize what our teams are doing well while also identifying areas where we can improve,” Crites said. “We are encouraged by the improvements in inpatient and surgical services and will continue working with our departments to address opportunities throughout the hospital.”

 

Crites provided an update on a recent site visit by a Healthcare Services Group (HSG) risk consultant, who conducted an in-depth review of surgical services to help improve survey readiness and reduce risk. 

 

Following the department review, HSG also provided staff education on workplace violence prevention and de-escalation.

 

“Our goal is to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to quality and risk,” Crites said. “These reviews allow us to identify opportunities, address them and continue strengthening the systems we have in place to protect our patients and our staff.”

 

Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, updated board members on the permanent closure of TCMH Hutcheson Pharmacy as of Friday, August 21.

 

Employees and patients were notified regarding prescription transfers, and staff worked closely with those affected to help coordinate the transition of medications. The team provided personalized assistance throughout the process, helping ensure patients had the information and support they needed for a smooth transition.

 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to have served the Texas County community through TCMH Hutcheson Pharmacy for so many years,” Owens said. “We deeply appreciate the trust our patients and community members have placed in TCMH and our pharmacy team over the years. That trust has meant a great deal to us, and we are committed to continuing to care for our patients and community in every way we can.”

 

Pamperien presented the July financials, which reflected an increase of $393,728 in overall revenues compared with budgeted monthly expectations. 

 

“Our outpatient revenue increased $736,115, a 9.1 percent increase, and our inpatient revenue decreased $355,169, a 25.5 percent decrease from our budgeted monthly expectations,” Pamperien said. 

 

According to Pamperien, the hospital had 68 admissions in July, down 48 admissions from the same time frame in 2025, with 573 admissions year-to-date. Monthly operating expenses increased by $139,025, or 3.4 percent, compared to budget.

 

Pamperien noted that the month of July had three payrolls, which increased expenses for the month. At TCMH, the average payroll is almost $1 million per pay period.

 

The financial report reflected a negative bottom line for July, with a decrease of $196,537 and a year-to-date loss of $1,206,683. Earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the month were positive at $79,763.

 

Bridges shared with board members that he will be attending a federal advocacy event in September in Washington, D.C., organized by the Missouri Hospital Association.  Bridges hopes to meet with lawmakers and federal health staff to advocate for health care policies that benefit Texas County.  

 

Bridges said TCMH will continue seeking resources to invest in the hospital and strengthen health care services for the communities it serves.

 

“As a rural hospital, we have to be creative and persistent in finding resources to invest in our facilities, equipment and people,” Bridges said. “Our community depends on TCMH, and we will continue pursuing responsible opportunities to strengthen the hospital and ensure we can continue providing quality health care close to home.”

 

Present at the meeting were Bridges; Pamperien; Crites; Owens; Helania Wulff, public relations and marketing; Kristina Grant, DO, vice chief of staff; board members Jim Perry, OD; Ross Richardson, Joleen Durham, and Jennifer Hugenot; and guest Zoe Naylor, Houston Herald reporter. Jerri Crump joined the meeting via teleconference. 

 

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 12:00 noon in the hospital board room.