Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center reported more than 331,000 patient encounters in 2023, served at the hospital on Oak Grove Road and the network of Regional Physician Services clinics and other outpatient sites of care.
PBRMC also sees about 40,000 emergency department visits each year, according to information released by the provider.
“PBRMC plays a vital role in our community around the clock, every day of the year to help people get well and live healthier,” said Clyde Wood, chief executive officer for PBRMC. “Regardless of holidays or challenging weather, our dedicated team of clinicians and caregivers are using their skills, experience, and compassion in service to the patients who are counting on us.”
The care included more than $53.9 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable, the hospital said.
Support for social determinants of health in the community includes financial donations for charitable organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland, Bread Shed and Haven House, and acts of service such as the Jars of Love Peanut Butter drive which collected more than 9,500 jars of peanut and other nut butters for the SEMO Food Bank to address food insecurity across the region, they continued.
Efforts to continue to improve the level of care and availability of services are ongoing, officials said.
PBRMC has plans to establish an open heart surgery program in 2024. It currently has three interventional cardiologists on the medical staff performing a range of procedures and is undergoing the recruitment of a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon.
“More than 15,000 hearts are beating stronger following cardiac care such as diagnostic tests, cardiac catheterization, and nuclear and vascular services, received at the Cardiovascular Institute of Southern Missouri in 2023,” PBRMC reported.
In addition to cardiovascular services, PBRMC offers an array of medical specialties including orthopedics, pulmonology, surgery and critical care. Additions include teleneurology and tele-ICU services to support medical staff and patients, in addition to the recruitment of primary care providers.
A new communication network app has also been introduced to help streamline communication between emergency medical services and the emergency.
Capital improvements totaling more than $11.3 million were made to upgrade the electronic medical records and patient monitoring systems, enhancing the patient experience, officials said.
Civic resources and services are supported by PBRMC’s tax payments of more than $14.1 million and the payroll of more than $105.7 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services.
Workforce development remains a priority and strong relationships with local nursing and technical programs through collaborative programs with Three Rivers College, Black River Technical College, and Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, according to hospital officials. In addition, PBRMC collaborated with Heartland Forward, a grant project under the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities program, titled High School to Career Pathway & Mentoring for Nursing Program.
PBRMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program has 18 students and will graduate its inaugural cohort of residents in June 2024.
“The vital care we provide is only one part of the broad impact we have that adds up to more than $207.7 million last year,” Wood said. “We recognize that our services are essential to this community and we are committed to doing all we can to provide quality health care and make Southeast Missouri a healthier, better community for all.”
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