NewsWest 9
BIG SPRING - With the potential money-maker the Cline Shale will be for Big Spring and surrounding communities, a population increase is expected. More people means longer lines at the grocery stores, busier streets and even more people at the hospital.
According to Larry Rodgers, CEO of Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring, alot of changes have been going on within the hospital and more are expected to come, all to the benefit of residents.
"We've been really fortunate over the last six months or so to recruit new physicians. We have a new general surgeon who started just a few months ago, a couple of nurse practitioners. We have clinical diabetes educator. We are going to try and bring that to an outpatient setting," Rodgers said.
Rodgers says he feared once the Cline Shale got into full swing, the hospital will be swamped. That's why he is trying to stay ahead of the expected population increase.
"That's why we brought those new physicians in anticipating the increase in population," Rodgers said.
The addition of medical staff will also help those patients who are seen by out of town physicians.
"They won't have the drive time. It will be easier to find providers, that's why it's so important to bring in new providers. Expanding some product lines that we currently have. Orthopedics is another area where we are trying to expand," Rodgers said.
Currently, the medical facility can hold three times the number of patients they have currently and should a sudden influx in population happen, Rodgers says the hospital will be ready.
"We usually have about a five year plan to see where we are going to be in the next five years or so. Today, our infrastructure is able to handle the population growth that we are anticipating with the Cline Shale," Rodgers said.
