News

After beginning a search in late August, Graham Regional Medical Center has their man. The board voted to approve the employee agreement with Doctor Steven Vaughan to work with, and eventually replace, the retiring Doctor, Donald Behr, as General Surgeon.

Vaughan comes to Graham from Tucson, Ariz., where he ran a private practice for 16 years. Vaughan had his medical training at the University of Arizona and surgery training at Texas Tech University, where he was chief resident in his final year.

Graham Regional Medical Center saw an operating loss of $184,000 for the month of February, but after other forms of incomes, including taxes, the hospital had a net income of $101,000.

“A couple of reasons for that, we had a $110,000 uncompensated care payment, which went straight to the bottom line,” GRMC CFO, Jeff Casbeer, said. “We also had a change in payer mix, we saw about a 15 percent drop in our Medicare payer mix and about a 7 percent increase in our commercial payer mix.”

The Graham Independent School District board approved a proposal for the repair of the roof at Woodland Elementary School, at their regular board meeting, Wednesday night, March 20. GISD Superintendent, Sonny Cruse, also said repairs on the Graham Junior High School roof were completed.

GISD requested proposals from two vendors for the Woodland roof project, Parson’s Commercial Roofing, Inc. and Big Bear Roofing and Construction, LLC. Parson’s Commercial Roofing, Inc. returned a quote of $215,518, which was accepted as a budget amendment by the board on Wednesday.

After choosing not to run for reelection, Michael Carmichael sent his letter of resignation from the Graham Hospital District Board of Directors on Feb. 25. During the Tuesday, March 19 board meeting, the board voted to have Sylvia Overton fill Carmichael’s unexpired term.

On Tuesday, Graham Area United Way elected a new president, campaign chairperson and board for the 2019-2020 campaign.

Graham Area United Way is a local fundraising organization which began on March 3, 1956, and today has over 200 volunteers on the executive board, board of directors, allocation board, campaign organization cabinet, packet workers, public speakers or individuals from businesses that assist in employee pledges and programs.

For the first time ever, Graham Regional Medical Center will be able to offer advanced nuclear medicine and echo cardiograms five days a week. The board of directors approved the purchases of equipment necessary on Tuesday to perform the procedures.

Despite registration only being open since late February for the October event, the highest paying fishing competition in the nation only has 60 slots left.

The CatMasters registration does not have any requirements to participate and allows for boats of up to three anglers, according to CatMasters Founder Bryan St Ama. The tournament is only allowing for 200 boats to participate in the competition.