First surgeries performed in new Cogdell surgical wing

Cogdell Memorial Hospital’s new surgical wing opened recently and the first surgeries were performed this week.
The new wing, located on the third floor of the hospital, was part of the $10 million renovation project the Scurry County Hospital District board of directors approved last year.
Dr. Teb Thames, who performed five surgeries on Thursday, said the wing is “first class.”
“I have worked at numerous hospitals, good hospitals, with first-class equipment,” he said. “It is amazing that Snyder put in this first-class operational suite. It features the top of the line technology and equipment.”
The two operating rooms feature all new equipment, lighting and specialty video equipment for laparoscopic surgeries. The rooms have special flooring to accommodate long periods of standing for the doctors and nurses.
Thames said the layout helps the 15 employees with efficiency.
He said after he completed one surgery on Thursday, he could walk into the second room and begin the next operations.
“It is much more efficient,” said technician Carmen Timora, adding that having everything in one place helped with the flow of the wing.
Thames said he was impressed with the layout and the equipment.
Dr. Mark Nordyke performed the first surgery in the wing on Wednesday.
“For a hospital that is not in a major metropolitan area with a nice OR, this as good as a facility, if not better,” Nordyke said.
Nordyke said having the nice facility is good, but the people who work there make it better.
“They have put together a good crew. It is a first-rate facility with a first-rate crew,” he said.
He agreed that the layout will be efficient for more surgeries. The hospital currently performs more than 100 surgeries each month. Procedures available include ear, nose and throat surgery, including tonsillectomy and ear tubes, general surgery, cataract and other eye surgeries, urology, including vasectomy, orthopedic surgery, colonoscopy, endoscopy and tubal ligation and gynecological surgery.
Nordyke said the staff is happy with the layout because the previous operating rooms were in a “misjointed area” of the hospital.
“I think once they get everything finished (the construction project), the hospital will be rocking and rolling,” he said.
Each room features four video screens for doctors to use throughout a surgery. Nordyke said the screens may be used to show patients what is happening during a procedure. Doctors will also be able to review x-rays and other information on screens in the operating room.
After surgery, doctors will be able to update patient information on computers and meet with families in a private consultation room.
Nordyke said the wing could lead to more surgeries for people who do not live in Scurry County.
“The administration had the foresight to know the community was growing. This wing could draw from the outlining areas … and be a shining star.”