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BY ETHAN REDDISH

This past Tuesday, the Memorial Hospital and Manor Authority held a board meeting. Aside from discussing things like budget and finances, they discussed plans to purchase a new mammography system, as well as new plans for COVID testing.

The new mammography system will be capable of providing both 2D and 3D images to aid in diagnosing breast cancer, and will also use a tomosynthesis biopsy system for sampling suspicious tissue. This increases the rate of detection. The overall expenses, including the initial purchase and service contracts, will tally up to $690,704 for a 7-year life cycle.

“Women’s health is very important to us here,” Lee Harris said. As for the price tag he said, “It will pay for itself by the 27th month.”

As for the new COVID testing times, drive-thru services will be available again on Tuesday, October 27. Drive-thru services will now only be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-3:00 PM, under the breeze way at the front of the hospital. Drive-thru services are now only offered for symptomatic patients; non-symptomatic patients will now be tested in the out-patient lab.

In addition, pre-op patients who are non-symptomatic in need of COVID-19 PCR screening will be collected in the out-patient area inside the hospital, Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM- 2 :00 PM. Non-symptomatic patients need to enter through the Emergency Room entrance for initial screening.

Following the meeting, MHM celebrated their 60th birthday on Thursday afternoon.

The party was a celebration to all those who have dedicated their time and expertise to MHM over the course of 60 years.

To help them celebrate, Survival Flight out of Miller County grilled up the team hotdogs and hamburgers.

“The South Georgia Region was without a medical flight for about a year, so Survial Flight decided to add a location as they saw a big need for it,” Base Manager Trent Robinson said.

The flight from Miller County to MHM is only about six minutes, according to Robinson.

Robinson said they wanted to help celebrate, because this is part of their territory and they want to be involved in the medical community.

Human resources Director, Karen Williams was thankful for Life Flight’s willingness to help them celebrate and for the donations made by local businesses to help provide their staff with some goodies at their celebration.