The Stroud Regional Medical Center has recently been acquired by Rural Wellness Stroud, Inc. The acquisition took effect Nov. 1.
Dr. Elizabeth Pusey is founder and president of Rural Wellness Stroud that acquired the Stroud facility.
She said this week, “The Stroud facility is a going concern and it’s doing really well. It’s keeping a full census and the 153 employees are handling everything well,” Dr. Pusey explained.
Ed Dyer, who is currently Stroud Medical Center’s chief medical officer, “will remain in that position. He’s doing a great job and I don’t want to change anything,” Dr. Pusey noted.
Dyer is the person who oversees day-to-day operations at Stroud Regional Medical Center, she confirmed.
The name of the facility will remain Stroud Regional Medical Center.
She emphasized the current number of employees “are handling the seriousness of the patients and Stroud is in good shape in that regard,” Dr. Pusey believes.
Dr. Pusey said, “It will have some more investment in the near future. Currently, there’s a $1 million electrical upgrade under way. There is a new boiler coming and there is a portable X-ray unit to come,” she added.
She also said a new bank of servers for computers is being purchased.
Dr. Pusey said the Stroud facility was constructed in 1978, 43 years ago.
“I’m excited in getting Stroud. They are doing such a great job for the Stroud community and with the quality of care. The patients are being treated well,” she stressed.
“We are looking into a surgical center possibly in the future,” Dr. Pusey stated.
She said, “I will be out in Stroud in December for their governing board meeting. They also have a community board at Stroud and those are completely different people.”
She explained those on the community board look and help plan outside of the hospital’s needs.
Avem Health Partners is a management company that oversees the Stroud facility as it does a couple of others in the state, the Fairfax Community Hospital owned by Rural Wellness Fair fax and The Physicians Hospital in Anadarko owned by Rural Wellness Anadarko.
Jeff Hill is Chief Executive Officer of Avem Health Partners.
In a prepared statement, Dyer stated, “Stroud Regional Medical Center is committed to our employees, and I’m thrilled all current staff will continue to serve and grow. New community programs and jobs are on the horizon. It’s a great time to be associated with our hospital. “The leadership at Avem Health Partners is already providing quality service that benefits the Stroud community. I expect Rural Wellness Stroud, Inc. will also be excellent partners.”
It was pointed out, too, that in addition to advanced technology and considerable upgrades, Avem Health Partners also invested in the community.
Amid the pandemic, the organization donated $75,000 to its three rural communities in Stroud, Anadarko, and Fairfax. The funds provided emergency food boxes for families in need and technology for distance learning. The Stroud Food Pantry received a $25,000 contribution - $15,000 provided food and nutrition to rural families in need. Recently, a $33,000 donation funded the purchase and installation of a new sunshade at Foster Park in Stroud.