FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE The Bellevue Hospital
November 11,
2002
CONGRESSMAN
PAUL GILLMOR MAKES
SPECIAL VISIT
TO THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL
United States
Congressman Paul Gillmor (R-Old Fort) visited The Bellevue Hospital on
Wednesday, Oct. 30, after Gillmor accepted an invitation to tour the hospital in
recognition of National Pharmacy Week.
Chris Hirt, manager of
the hospital’s Pharmacy Department, spent time with Gillmor while touring the
hospital and the Pharmacy Department.
Congressman Gillmor
was able to discuss and give updates on the Prescription Drug Act and how it
affects hospitals and patients, noting to those present that he is in favor of
re-importing prescription drugs as long as the drugs meet strict safety
standards before coming into the country. The discussion arose out of the topic
of the high cost of prescription drugs and the current trend of many to order
the drugs from Canadian companies in order to save money.
After his tour of The
Bellevue Hospital, Gillmor met with Hospital CEO Michael K. Winthrop, Thomas
Barth, president of the hospital board of directors, and several other executive
staff and board members of the hospital. Gillmor also heard about and saw
tentative site plans for the hospital’s $30 million proposed new facility, to be
located on U.S. 20 at C.R. 302 on 109 acres of land.
“We have grown beyond
the capacity of our present site,” Winthrop told Congressman Gillmor. “We are
now looking to build for our future and for the future of our community.”
Winthrop stressed that one of the main goals of this project was to remain an
independent, non-profit organization. He then discussed possible funding
options/grant options with Gillmor concerning the new facility.
Thomas Barth, chairman of The
Bellevue Hospital Board of Directors, Michael K. Winthrop, president and CEO of
the hospital, and Chris Hirt, manager of the hospital Pharmacy Department, show
Congressman Paul Gillmor (R-Old Fort) (third from left) the plans for the
proposed new hospital.
Congressman Paul Gillmor (R-Old
Fort) meets with The Bellevue Hospital Pharmacy Department employees Elaine
Brock, Linda Lerch, and Cindy Mounts.
