Just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, Fairfield Hospital District Board will be hosting a Birthday Party to celebrate the ‘Birth’ of Freestone Medical Center (FMC) on January 1, 2017.
This party will be a way to show appreciation to all staff members for their efforts in making sure there is a smooth transition from ETMC-Fairfield to Freestone Medical Center.
At this party, there will be birthday cake and a gift for each staff member, who will receive a shirt with the FMC logo.
The Hospital Board also announces that Stace Holland will become the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer beginning January 1st. Holland is already onsite helping to ensure the smooth transition of the hospital to the district.
“We are excited for this evolution as we welcome Stace to our community,” says Hospital Board President George Robinson. “His healthcare knowledge and experience serving smaller, community hospitals will certainly benefit the Fairfield Hospital District and those we serve, positioning us as the primary healthcare resource for Freestone County and surrounding areas.”
A seasoned hospital CEO, Holland has recently been part of the Community Hospital Consulting (CHC Consulting) operations team managing Morehouse General Hospital, Bastrop, La. In prior roles, Holland served as CEO of Pineville Community Hospital, Pineville, Ky., CEO for Lynn County Hospital District in Tahoka, Texas, Vice President of Operations at Sheridan HealthCorp Inc., and Administrator at East Texas Medical Center-Clarksville, Texas.
In order to get things off on the right foot starting January 1st, the Hospital Board was in need of a $1.6 million dollar loan, for a one year period, to be supported by pledge of 2017 tax revenue. The board reached out to all area financial institutions, but has chosen to use Farmers State Bank, as they were the only to respond to the request.
“You don’t know how much this means to us, the community, and county residents that you were willing to support and back us in this endeavor,” says Robinson to Morris DeFriend, President and CEO of Farmers State Bank. “The lack of a medical facility would be devastating to any community.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Freestone Medical Center and appreciate the opportunity to work with you over the next year,” says DeFriend.
A major influence on the Fairfield Hospital for many years was Dr. Keller, for whom a plaque to honor him was created and hung in the older portion of the hospital.
Hospital Board members have decided to move this plaque from where it currently hangs, to be displayed more prominently in the entrance of the new medical clinic so it can been seen by all who enter.
FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL BOARD President George Robinson (far left) and member Jeff Taylor (far right) thank Farmers State Bank President/CEO Morris DeFriend (middle right) and Branch Manager Cindy Rachall (middle left) for their support with providing a $1.6 million dollar loan.
