Farmer’s Home could complete approval of architect’s plans for a new fitness center as early as this week.

Monday, August 02, 1999

Farmer’s Home could complete approval of architect’s plans for a new fitness center as early as this week.

The fitness center is a joint project of River Valley Health System and Ohio University Southern Campus. It will be located at the intersection of Ohio 141 and U.S. 52 at the foot of the Indian Hills subdivision in Ironton.

"We have been told release is imminent," said Terry Vanderhoof, RVHS chief executive officer, during last week’s monthly trustee meeting.

Once Farmer’s Home approves plans for the fitness center, the bidding process will begin with construction following as soon as bids are awarded, Vanderhoof said.

In other action during the board meeting:

Trustees approved regular status for Mark Pack, M.D., whose specialty is general surgery. Pack is the son of David Pack, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist, who practices in Ironton.

Other new physicians include D. Blaine Nease, M.D., whose specialties include general and vascular surgery; Stephen Shy, D.O., and James Ross, M.D., who have practiced in the Tri-State for a number of years and now who are co-administering the RVHS emergency services department; and Robert Hess, M.D., emergency services.

Vanderhoof reported that due to changes in federal regulations concerning Medicare reimbursement, total nursing and home health aide visits continued to decrease in June.

"However, the RVHS Home Health Agency has logged 17,929 total patient visits for the year to date, which is very active by any standards," he said.

Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of $40,000 in switching equipment that will be used as RVHS implements its comprehensive computer networking project. Dr. John Ross, head of the RVHS pharmaceutical department, is in charge of the networking effort.

Vanderhoof said the annual RVHS employee picnic will be Friday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Dow Park. The picnic will include all employees at both the Ironton and Portsmouth campuses.

Trustees attending the meeting included chairman Bob Griffith, Eileen Vass-Brown, Dr. Rodolfo Canos, Don Lambert, Glenda Marting and Jim Weber.