Joining Trigg County Hospital as its CEO in the spring of 2015 following more than two decades of service with Western Kentucky State Hospital, John Sumner has seen lots of change in the area.
But one thing that remained the same in a brief tenure together, was the positive attitude of Dr. James Brazil — who served Cadiz and Trigg County’s health umbrella from 1979 until the late 2010s.
Sumner remembers a man who returned to Trigg County Hospital despite his retirement, and despite approaching nearly 80 years of age, to help when the wards so desperately needed it — serving under Sumner in the Medical Arts building for another 8-to-12-month tenure before finally fully retiring.
On Wednesday, Brazil died at Barkley Plantation. He was 84.
In other hospital news:
■ Sumner said he and the hospital board will be pursuing a 1% state-level loan available to rural hospitals, in order to bid out and complete a new roof for the entire Trigg County Hospital structure.
■ Two new ambulances, ordered in the spring of 2021, have yet to arrive. However, a used ambulance ordered from New York state has not only arrived, but is currently being re-striped and should be in use in less than 30 days.
■ There is a deep desire among Sumner and the hospital board for the former Save On Drugs location to become the second rural health clinic for the campus.
With a design in place, officials are moving forward toward a bidding process for its renovation over the next two weeks — and will assess its remodel and total cost before taking further action.
■ Through the use of federal COVID-19 relief dollars, Sumner said constituents have approved the purchase of Dr. Bostick’s former office next to what used to be Hospital Street Pharmacy. This will allow the hospital to have a second COVID-19 testing site. Though cases continue to wane, Sumner added it was important to have a satellite location in case their doors are overrun, once again.
■ Regarding the expansion of private rooms near the old obstetrics unit, Sumner said the area is framed up and sheetrock work should begin by the next board meeting. The project, long-delayed, should be finished by August 1.