跑狗论坛

Grand Opening Celebration held at new 跑狗论坛 Hospital

September 29, 2022

鈥淎 dream come true.鈥�

鈥沦耻谤谤别补濒.鈥�

鈥淭his day has been a long time coming.鈥�

Those were just a few remarks from both officials and the crowd in general as an estimated 500 people turned out Saturday for the Grand Opening Celebration of the new 跑狗论坛 Hospital.

On a beautiful early-fall day, Green Countians 鈥� and many others 鈥� gathered in front of the new facility on Industrial Park Road to witness a piece of history.

鈥淭his is a crowning achievement,鈥� said Rusty Tungate, Administrator/CEO of 跑狗论坛 Hospital. 鈥淭his beautiful facility has become a reality that will serve our residents here in Green County for many years to come.鈥�

The new 25-bed Critical Access Hospital features all private patient rooms. It was built in just 19 months and also includes two administration buildings and a maintenance building as part of the project.

Saturday鈥檚 crowd was welcomed by Greensburg Mayor John Shuffett, who praised Tungate and the hospital鈥檚 Board of Directors for making the dream of a new hospital turn into a reality.

Following the invocation by Rev. Trajan Smith, pastor of Greensburg Church of the Nazarene, Board Chairwoman Ruthie Shuffett summed up everyone鈥檚 feelings by saying, 鈥淎t last!鈥�, which was met with a round of applause.

Shuffett introduced board members Joe Shuffett, Valerie Perkins, and Steve Lewis, recognizing the hard work that each one has done over the years for the hospital. She pointed out that Joe Shuffett has served 38 years on the JTCH Board of Directors, and he offered remarks on looking back at the hospital鈥檚 history.

鈥淭his has certainly been a long time coming, and we鈥檙e so proud and happy to see this day,鈥� he said, becoming emotional.

Ruthie Shuffett offered a look at the hospital going forward, pointing out that 跑狗论坛 is a private, non-profit corporation.

鈥淥ur mission was not to be a taxing district, which could ultimately put a financial burden on the taxpayers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was our desire to pay our own way and never place any burden on the citizens of our community.鈥�

Tungate told of when he first came to 跑狗论坛, having been hired by the board as CEO on March 8, 2005. He spoke of going through the hospital鈥檚 financials, along with others on his management team, and figuring out how to make the hospital survive.

鈥淚n looking at the bank accounts, I realized the hospital didn鈥檛 have enough cash on hand to meet the next payroll,鈥� Tungate said. He sat down with pen and paper and made a list of what was owed to the hospital.

鈥淭hat little piece of paper is what kept the hospital from closing,鈥� he said. 鈥淩uthie and I took it to the bank and used those accounts receivable as collateral to borrow $600,000. That money allowed us to meet the next payroll and keep the hospital operating until the money from the billings started coming in.鈥�

Tungate said he still has that little piece of paper, and plans to frame it and hang it in his office.

Other honored guests who spoke included Retired Col. William Landrum III and Green County Judge-Executive John Frank.

Landrum 鈥� who served as former Gov. Matt Bevin鈥檚 Secretary of Finance and Administration 鈥� said the new hospital was a beautiful addition to the city and county. Frank pointed out that the new facility was just icing on the cake for the entire area of Industrial Park Road, which has seen a lot of new growth recently.

Both Tungate and Mrs. Shuffett offered many thanks to several people and organizations that helped to make the new hospital a reality, including the late Dr. Kenneth J.S. DeSimone.

鈥淎s we look back, we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. DeSimone, who came to Greensburg as a Master Surgeon,鈥� Mrs. Shuffett said. 鈥淗e was instrumental in providing a lifeline of patients for 跑狗论坛 in the early 鈥�60s, and who shared this great dream with us by helping to recruit Mr. Tungate and his management team.鈥�

鈥淎 special thanks to ALL our employees who have stuck with us through the bad times as well as the good,鈥� Tungate said. 鈥淭his celebration belongs to all of you.鈥�

Following the official ribbon-cutting, guests were offered a commemorative glass ornament to mark the occasion, and given tours of the new hospital. Lunch was also served to all attending.

鈥淭his is such a great day,鈥� Mrs. Shuffett said.

Tungate said he wanted the public to be able to see the new hospital in its entirety before the patients are moved from the existing hospital to the new one. Moving to the new hospital is tentatively set for Oct. 18.

The current 跑狗论坛 Hospital, which sits on Milby Street, has been operating since 1962. Future plans for that building have not yet been finalized.