David Ramsey

June 19, 2007

The new CAMC Teays Valley is improving and the long-term prospects point toward continued growth and outstanding service for the Putnam area.

Formerly known as Putnam General Hospital, the facility was managed by the Charleston Area Medical Center from October, 2006. A month later, the facility was purchased as a part of the CAMC Health System, Inc.

CAMC's President andChief Executive Officer David Ramsey laid out the facts for Putnam Rotarians at their noon luncheon today at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

Nearly $2.2 million in building and equipment will be spent at the hospital this year, said Ramsey.

Last October there were 286 employees at the Putnam hospital, and seventy-five percent of the nursing staff were "agency" people -- hourly paid. CAMC is hiring regular employees today and the staff is up to 323.

The patient population by2011 is expected to grow 1.6 percent, to nearly 115,800.

Surgical procedureds declined after 2003, but are again rising -- 4,493 two years ago to an estimated 4,558 this year. Outpatient visits had dropped below 40,000 by 2005, but are expected to reach or exceed 50,000 this year.

Ramsey noted that the administrative staff represents experience and ties to the community. The team includes Al Michaels (CEO), Randy Hodges (Vice President) and Mary Beth Mullins (Chief of Nursing).

Fifty-three of the 68 beds in the hospital are "up and running." Twenty-five of these have been renovated by the new management.

The single-slice CAT (computed axial tomography) scanner at the hospital has been replaced with a 65-slice scanner. A scan with the previous equipment required 40 minutes; the new equipment does the job in eight minutes.

Joining Gov. Manchin and Congresswoman Capito for dedication of the new hospital were Rotarians Oshel Craigo (left) and Past-President Rick Slater (right).

Ramsey talked also about the advantages of association with the greater CAMC system -- the second largest non-governmental employer in the state (next to Wal-Mart) with 6.300 employees including 553 on the active and associate medical staff.

Over 140 medical residents are in traning in the CAMC system each year.

Recent awards and recognitions include the HealthGrades 2007 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence placing CAMC in the top 5% in the nation for hospital-wide clinical excellence. CAMC also recieved the HealthGrades 2007 Cardiac Care Specialty Excellence Award, placing CAMC in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for cardiac care.

CAMC was named by U.S. News and World Report as among the top 50 best hospitals for heart treatment and heart surgery in 2005 and 2006.