Erlanger hospital is expanding its three-doctor gastroenterology program to meet the high demand for specialty care.
“The volume has just gotten to the point where we are having to go out and recruit for a fourth gastroenterologist,” said Roger Forgey, senior vice president of operations, at the hospital’s monthly budget and finance committee meeting Monday night.
Committee members gave preliminary approval to a resolution that temporarily contracts with gastroenterologist Dr. Christopher Michael White. He would work up to 10 days a month and provide on-call service at Erlanger while the hospital works to recruit another full-time specialist.
The contract, which will be considered by the board of trustees on Thursday, would cost the hospital $342,000 but is expected to bring in $33,000 a year in profits.
Currently, the three gastroenterologists employed at Erlanger must be on-call once every three days, Mr. Forgey said.