Hospital volunteer auxiliary still going
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Yesterday marked the last meeting of the Roy H. Laird Memorial Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary. Volunteers met at McKay's Ranch House for their monthly meeting and annual report.

"We are still here," Ellen Watson, charter auxiliary member, said. "This is our last meeting as Roy H. Laird Memorial Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary. However, we will still perform vital duties within the hospital."

Approximately 25 auxiliary members met. Denise McMillan, assistant hospital administrator, also met with the group, to answer some questions.

"I appreciate your patience in this transition and in times of uncertainty and unknowing," McMillan said. "We will get busier after this six-month demonstration period, but right now we're going with the flow."

McMillan said Mark Pierce, hospital administrator, will be available to answer questions the next Auxiliary meeting, 2 p.m. Monday, May 5 in the hospital board room.

Diagnostic Clinic is expected to open an Urgent Care Center in the coming weeks.

The hospital is still able to perform laboratory and x-ray procedures.

Long-Term Acute Care is operational, but limited to approximately three patients at a time, until transition is complete.

Watson read excerpts from Bless This Mess and Other Prayers, then officers were announced.

Officers are: Winnie Nicks, president; Ertis Murphey, first vice president; Wanda Fowler, second vice president; Betty Renshaw, parlimentarian; and, Polly Weatherford, historian.

This year auxiliary members put in 5, 678 hours; 240 of those hours were in April.

In addition to other duties, volunteers operate the hospital gift shop to aid indigent patients with medication needs and Kilgore College medicalfield scholarships.