Bonham -- On March 1, 2015, the hospital located in Bonham, Texas -- then known as Red River Regional Hospital -- entered into an agreement with Texoma Medical Center (TMC) to manage the operations of the hospital. One year and $1.5 million later, TMC Bonham Hospital is preparing to open its spacious new state-of-the-art Emergency Room Department. A ribbon cutting will be held May 19 at the new Emergency Department.
The most significant capital improvement since the hospital opened 43 years ago in 1972, the new ER at TMC Bonham Hospital is more than twice as large as the original, has a far more convenient entrance, and comes with all the latest technological advances. Still, even standing amidst all the obvious upgrades in the soon-to-open emergency room, Chief Nursing Officer Jan Johnson says the heart and soul of any ER is a dedicated and well-trained staff.
"It's the people who will make the difference," Johnson remarks.
And no one has made a more profound impact at the 25-bed critical access hospital than CEO Harley Smith, who took the reins at TMC Bonham Hospital in mid-2015.
"One of the most important developments was securing the right CEO for the job," states Johnson. "We are very fortunate to have a CEO with a critical access background."
The new 4,200-square-foot ER is more than twice as large as the original emergency room and has its own dedicated access off Lipscomb Street. The ER actually has two entrances -- one for ambulances and another for ambulatory patients. The entrance designed for use by ambulances has a trauma room just inside the door, as well as three separate patient rooms.
These state-of-the-art facilities will be an essential component of TMC Bonham Hospital, which is a designated Level III Stroke Facility, as well as a designated Level IV Trauma Facility.
The walk-in ER entrance has a triage desk where patients will register and provide vital information and three rooms with recliners where physicians will attend patients.
A modern, spacious emergency department had been "priority number one" at the hospital for more than 20 years and this major commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare is exactly what area residents eagerly anticipated when Texoma Medical Center assumed management responsibilities March 1, 2015.
"We can thank Texoma Medical Center for this," CEO Harley Smith said as he toured the almost-complete ER. "They are going to take care of this community, and TMC Bonham Hospital will provide quality care to our patients."
