CUTLINE 1: Pictured is Dr. Scott Whitby, HCMC Chairman of the Board as he presents to the Henry County Commission on Monday night.

CUTLINE 2: Pictured is Dr. Blake Chandler, Orthopedic Surgeon with West TN Bone & Joint, as he shares about the growth HCMC has seen and the new technologies now available at HCMC, especially in orthopedic are.

CUTLINE 3: Pictured is Dr. Amanda Finley, Hospitalist, at HCMC, as she shares with the Henry County Commission about training physicians and providers here at home so that they will want to continue to serve rural communities.

Paris, TN – Lisa Casteel, CEO at Henry County Medical Center, was first on the agenda Monday night at the Henry County Commission meeting. Casteel along with several physicians came to the meeting to showcase the growth and changes at the medical center and the need for support from the commission for continued rural healthcare.

Henry County Medical Center showed a short two minute highlight video of the growing forward efforts over the past few years featuring new physicians, new services, and new technology available. To view the video, click on the link to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/rurvMqg70i0

Following the video, Dr. Scott Whitby, Chairman of the HCMC Board of Directors, discussed where we came from and where were are today as a healthcare organization. When Dr. Whitby came to HCMC in 1994, things were very different with limited services and limited capacity. HCMC is now embarking on building a new cath lab for our full time cardiologist that is coming to the community. We have award-winning services at HCMC as well as third year medical students rotating throughout the facility. There is more access to care that impacts our community like wound care, imaging, and robotics and it will take support from the Henry County Commission and the community to continue growing forward.

Dr. Joe Mobley, III, KY Lake Urologic Associates, discussed the continued support needed to recruit new physicians into the community. Raised in Henry County, Dr. Mobley addressed how special it was to come back to Henry County and take care of patients.

“We have the facilities and technology to be able to recruit physicians,” said Dr. Mobley, III. “You don’t have to go to a bigger city to practice thanks to the leadership and decisions of administration to put the pieces in place.”

Because of the new specialties that have been recruited, we have a better ability to take care of all the needs of our patients.

“I am thankful for the decision to stay county-owned and thankful for Lisa and all she does in this current healthcare environment,” said Dr. Mobley, III.

Dr. Blake Chandler, Orthopedic Surgeon with West TN Bone & Joint, echoed Dr. Mobley’s sentiments, expressing that he is glad to be home and taking care of patients, watching HCMC grow. We are an orthopedic center of excellence and were the second in the state to have an orthopedic robot. Dr. Chandler is the second in the state to do 500 orthopedic robotic surgeries as well.

“Patients want things done faster, quicker, and want to get home sooner,” said Dr. Chandler. “There is no place you will get the care at this level than HCMC. I am proud to be a part of it and proud to be home.”

Dr. Amanda Finley, Hospitalist, is currently developing the medical student program and believes that you grow physicians home for rural care. HCMC currently has eight, third year medical students doing clinical rotations with our physicians at HCMC.

Mayor Brent Greer thanked Casteel and guests for sharing this important update with the commission. Thirty years ago he was a commissioner asking the commission to keep the hospital local and it has been a great decision.

Casteel introduced Neely Ashby, Chief Nursing Officer, and Twila Rose, EMS Director who were also in attendance as well as thanked Henry County Commissioners James Travis and Kreg Kyle for serving on the HCMC Board of Trustees.

“Healthcare is so hard because of the environment we are in and we need the support of the County Commission and the community to talk to our legislatures to encourage them to support rural healthcare,” said Casteel.

To learn more about the growth at Henry County Medical Center, go to our website at www.hcmc-tn.org and read about all the services we offer to care for our community.

About Henry County Medical Center

Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and 7 other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.