News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Dr. Tad Duke addressed Clay County Commission Monday night to introduce himself to the elected officials.
Duke said he was requested by the city of Celina to be the local EMS Medical Director. He said he would like to work out a negotiation to resolve the current tension with the ambulance staff.
“I’m here on behalf to advocate both for your community as well as for your hospital as well as for your local EMS system,” Duke said. “I am very interested in helping this rural hospital and if I were going to get one point across tonight it’s my very fervent belief that healthcare is local.”
Duke would replace long-time medical director Dr. Mark Pressley. Duke said he wants to support Cumberland River Hospital Owner Johnny Presley and reinvest in the hospital reopening.
Commissioner Bryan Coons asked if the hospital were to reopen how it would operate. Duke said it likely would be designated as a Rural Emergency Hospital. That status provides emergency room coverage and under Medicare regulations, the average time for patient care is 23 hours.
“There are nuances there, we would be able to provide services that are traditionally performed in-patient as out-patient,” Duke said. “(…) If the hospital is not open, the chances of it ever becoming that full-fledged hospital again are slim to none. And so the intent, my intent at least, are those steps.”
Duke said he was first introduced to the community by Senator Mark Pody. Duke said that the Clay County community has found itself in a unique situation and that he would like to help.
“If I took your hand and if I had a butane torch and I started hitting your hand with it and I’m going to burn it, would you rather me burn it for one second or for ten seconds? And the difference between the two is exponential,” Duke said. “Why do I think healthcare is local? Even a small hospital like Cumberland River Hospital is an opportunity to extinguish that flame after one second instead of letting it continue to burn for ten seconds.”
