Congressman Jim Marshall Visited Hospital on Tuesday

The Monticello News
By Ted Dunagan
September 4, 2008

Eighth District U.S. Congressman Jim Marshall was in town Tuesday afternoon and seized the opportunity to view some equipment he helped secure for Jasper Memorial Hospital.

“We have an opportunity from time to time to get funds earmarked for hospitals. This is one of the hospitals I try to support regularly,” said Congressman Marshall. “The hospital had asked for an X-ray machine and I had the money earmarked for that. By the time all the paperwork was done the hospital had already purchased the portable X-ray machine.

“So we made application to change the use of the funds to acquire a pulmonary function machine, which we now have. It's something which enables the physicians to diagnose the possibility of lung problems, mostly associated with smokers.

“Instead of referring the patient to another hospital they can now do the test right here. That machine is in operation now, on the ground floor of the hospital. I just talked to the physicians who operates it and heard how it helped them show the problems to patients to help persuade them not to smoke.

“I'm happy to support the hospital and this is probably the fifth year in a row I have been to see the facility.

It seems to be steadily progressing. I was most impressed by the new physicians on board. They are all top notch, and as a former professor at Mercer, I love the fact they all come from that institution.

“I will continue to help in any way I can. The availability of a hospital is a factor in the location of businesses, and it brings a lot of other benefits to a community.

“It only takes a small amount from each taxpayer to help support the hospital. I will continue to support it at the federal level, but we need to have local support as well.”
Administrator Jan Gaston was on hand and she said, “We are now able to have a new revenue service and offer our patients the opportunity to have pulmonary studies done here at home. This grant gave us the opportunity to have a new area of care for our patients.”