Baptist Health Hardin President Rob Ramey says the hospital and health system is still “building for a bright future” following the opening of the new medical pavilion at the hospital. That includes the opening of new facilities in Elizabethtown and Nelson County and evaluating new uses for properties that saw their facilities moved to the medical pavilion.
“We’ve moved a lot of things out, so it gives us a chance now to continue to assess and grow to meet our patients’ needs, but even more importantly, make it more accessible, make it easier for our patients,” Ramey said.
Ramey was the featured speaker at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s February luncheon Wednesday. He says Baptist Health Hardin provides services to more than 400,000 patients, which is equal to one-tenth of the state’s population. Ramey says serving the fastest-growing region in the state means adapting to the needs of a rapidly changing population.
“If we can’t provide the service well, we’re not going to provide the service,” Ramey said. “We’re going to recruit excellent physicians. We’re going to provide the right care team around them to make sure that we’re providing an excellent service, which is why we’re glad and proud that we’ve been able to grow to provide all of these services within our hospital.”
Ramey touted innovative technology available at the hospital, including a 4D mammography clinical trial in partnership with Duke University and Calidar Inc. and three new cardiac catheterization labs. Ramey asked Dr. Aaron Mulhall to discuss the hospital’s ion bronchoscopy technology, which uses a 2 millimeter camera to check for lung cancer less invasively and more effectively.
“One out of five Kentuckians still smoke, so it’s like 17 to 20 percent,” Mulhall said. “We had the most cases of lung cancer in the United States last year and we’re still one of the worst in mortality, so for five-year survival we’re in the bottom, I think, five or six still.”
Ramey said the hospital has 300 certified beds, including 15 specifically designated for behavioral health.
