Catoosa County to replace radios for 4 departments

RINGGOLD — Four Catoosa County departments have banded together to take part in a radio replacement plan that’ll replenish each one’s communication devices over the next few years.

During the July 17 Commission meeting, County EMA and 911 Director Dennis Thayer presented the plan, speaking for all four departments. “I’m here tonight not only on behalf of 911, Emergency Management, but also on behalf of the sheriff’s office and fire department.”

The board unanimously approved the proposal at a cost of $168,989.40.

Polk admissions, ER visits up

CEDARTOWN — Polk Medical Center ended their fiscal year right on target with growth in several areas, from keeping swing bed admissions on an upward trend to seeing increases in the number of people visiting the emergency room overall.

Floyd Healthcare Management VP Matt Gorman reported to the Cedartown-Polk County Hospital Authority board during their July meeting that when FY 2018 ended on June 30, the hospital hit a record year in their swing bed admissions – or people who have short or long hospital stays for physical rehabilitation after surgery, for instance – and ended the year with a total of 477 patients served.

Emergency room visits were also right at the target, right around the same numbers in past years with 28,645 people treated between July 2017 and last month.

One area where Gorman said the hospital still needs to do some work is on better utilization of the operating suites. The annual figures ended with just 84 patients being treated in FY 2018.