The purpose of this grant is to assist Caldwell Memorial Hospital with the purchase of equipment that will aid in the recruitment of surgeons specializing in gastroenterology, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), and spine surgery, three acutely underserved surgical specialty areas in Caldwell County. To address these shortages, the Hospital has adopted an aggressive recruitment program which will result in the offering of these services by the summer of 2008. Among other recruitment strategies, the hospital will provide surgical space, surgical staff support and equipment required by the doctors to perform surgery. It is anticipated that during the first year 11,000 physician office visits and 750 surgeries will remain in Caldwell County.
