HMH Board of Trustees Approves Plans to Purchase 3D Mammography, Meade County Primary Care

The HMH Board of Trustees today approved an initial investment of $1.2 million to purchase two 3D mammography units

Elizabethtown, Ky. – The HMH Board of Trustees today approved an initial investment of $1.2 million to purchase two 3D mammography units to further advance the care HMH offers Central Kentucky. 

According to HMH Radiologist Sarah Callahan, M.D., the 3D technology will allow HMH to detect, diagnose and treat more invasive breast cancer sooner.  

“It also reduces the number of unnecessary callbacks by as much as 40 percent,” she said. 

The equipment will replace one 2D unit at HMH’s main campus and add one new unit at HMH Elizabethtown Diagnostic Imaging (EDI) at Cool Springs. The investment also includes a new needle biopsy table. HMH officials expect to have the new equipment in use before the end of the year. The remainder of the 2D units across the healthcare system will be replaced in the next 12 to 14 months.  

Trustee Lisa Boone provided a personal testimony of the value of the 3D mammography when diagnosing breast cancer. 

“HMH has a whole team supporting breast care from diagnosis to treatment to reconstruction,” Boone said. “3D mammography is the final piece and we have to have it.”

The approval comes on the heels of two major gifts to the HMH Foundation (HMHF) designated for 3D mammography. Local entrepreneur Kelly Emerine recently presented an $80,000 gift to the Foundation after the sale of her medication management app, Mom’s MedMinder, to HMH. Inspired by Emerine, HMHF board member and entrepreneur Mike Bowers presented a $20,000 gift to HMHF on behalf of area entrepreneurs.

HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson called the generous gifts an important catalyst. 

“3D mammography is an invaluable tool for HMH’s Multi-Disciplinary Breast Team,” said Johnson. “This technology and the gifts that made it possible represent the immeasurable value the Foundation provides our healthcare system.” 

The Board also approved plans to purchase Meade County Primary Care from KentuckyOne Health Medical Group. The two primary care physicians, four advanced practice registered nurses and 16 support staff at the practice will become HMH employees. The practice will remain in the same location and HMH will assume ownership of the practice and the lease on the building on Nov. 1.

KentuckyOne Health approached HMH about acquiring the practice because HMH’s primary service area includes Meade County. KentuckyOne Health officials called HMH a logical choice given HMH’s well established presence in Meade County and in Central Kentucky.

The practice will remain open and continue to serve its more than 9,000 patients during the transition, HMH and KentuckyOne Health officials said.

The investments came with the board’s review of financial data for HMH’s 2017 budget year ending June 2017. HMH CFO Lennis Thompson reported a $1.1 million profit margin. The positive margin was $6.8 million less than budgeted.

Even though HMH budgeted for a loss in July, Thompson reported a profit of $86,000.  

“July is the time of year when volumes are typically at their lowest,” he said. “People are on vacation. Patients do not schedule elective procedures and people typically are not as sick.” 

Thompson said the effectiveness of expense controls contributed to the positive outcome.  

Board Chairman and Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry said the financial results reflect the volatility of the healthcare industry and demonstrate the value a partner can provide.

At a meeting last week, the Board of Trustees agreed to sign a letter of intent to be acquired by Baptist Health, subject to due diligence, the negotiation of definitive transaction documents, and appropriate regulatory approvals.

Baptist’s Board of Directors has approved signing the letter of intent. Details of the proposed transaction will be released at a later date.

This non-binding agreement, which follows a two-year long HMH process of exploring potential options, authorizes both parties to move forward with necessary steps to pursue the proposed transaction. Under the terms, Baptist would acquire all assets of HMH and, in return, would commit significant capital for reinvestment into the healthcare system and make an additional monetary commitment to Hardin County.

In other board news. 

• Physical Therapist AJ Costin was named Ambassador of the Month for July. A patient nominated Costin for the exceptional care and encouragement he provides and for always explaining the purpose of the therapy.
• Medical Assistant Vicki White was also named an Ambassador of the Month for July. A coworker nominated White for always going above and beyond for her patients and the team. The co-worker had a family medical emergency and White took on extra work in her absence allowing her co-worker to take care of her family.
• Registered Nurse Kim King was named Ambassador of the Month for August. A member of the public nominated King for providing care at the scene of an accident and advising others on the scene how to aid victims until emergency services arrived.