Oct 3rd, 2021 – October 1^st marks the official beginning of the partnership between the South Wheeler Hospital District and Preferred Hospital Leasing Shamrock. The new relationship further enables Shamrock General Hospital (SGH) to utilize the resources and experience provided by Preferred to help ensure the hospital maintain excellent health care to the Shamrock community and surrounding area.

With the looming retirement of long time hospital administrator Wiley Fires, the South Wheeler County Hospital District board brought in Preferred on an interim basis in May to assist with oversight. To solidify a long term relationship with Preferred, the South Wheeler Hospital District voted on a lease arrangement in July, citing the need for continued support in an ever changing and highly regulated healthcare environment.  Technical experts on staff with Preferred offer a depth of knowledge in areas such as health finance, state and federal compliance, human resources and information technology nearly impossible to find in an individual hospital administrator.  

Bence Close, South Wheeler County board member, spoke about why the change was needed, “Health care has become more complex, making it very hard for rural hospitals and clinics to survive on limited resources.  Preferred Management is able to supply SGH with the tools and personnel that will help the hospital not only survive but hopefully thrive into the future.”

“It’s all about ensuring the hospital is able to continue to serve the community and provide excellent health care,” says Jared Chanski, Executive Vice President of Preferred Management.  He continues, “Our years of experience in health care combined with the expertise of our staff will help Shamrock General Hospital navigate the challenges of providing health care in a rural community.”

Shamrock General Hospital has already begun to see physical improvements in recent days. With the assistance of federal dollars, accessed through provider relief funding, hospital equipment and the physical facility is being brought into line with current health quality and safety standards. A new roof on both the hospital and clinic along with updated lab and telemetry equipment, new hospital beds, radiology suite, upgraded WiFi network and a state of the art CT Scanner are just a few of the improvements elevating the care provided at SGH.

One aspect that will not be changing at SGH is the familiar faces of the hospital staff. Both Preferred and the Hospital District Board recognize access to health care close to home with a staff that is built around the core of community personnel as a vital part of patient healing.  

  “The partnership we develop with Shamrock General Hospital is more than just numbers, it is about being a part of a family,” says Andy Freeman, President and CEO of Preferred Management. He adds, “We want to develop a relationship with the staff as well as a community so we can work together towards a successful hospital.” 

Preferred Management currently works with 10 Critical Access Hospitals across Texas and Oklahoma. Nearby Collingsworth General Hospital in Wellington, TX has been in a lease arrangement with Preferred for over 15 years. Like Collingsworth, many of the established relationships between Preferred and hospital community span a time period of more than a decade with several as long as 30 years.