RHCD does what to whom and how??

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Rural Health Care District Board met Monday, Nov. 8, at Marbleton in regular session with all members present except Garry Eiden. The board agreed to accept the combined mountain/mining design presented by the architect for the Pinedale Medical Clinic remodel project and added an enclosed ambulance carport to the package.

Walt Bousman and Andy McGinnis were appointed as liaison to work with the Sublette County Commissioners regarding building a new ambulance barn near the Pinedale clinic. Concern was expressed by Board Member Bill Barney that the two projects would be done by different contractors and could be “fraught with potential for problems.”

Regarding the search for a director/administrator/coordinator, Board Member Mary Lynn Worl reported that they have received some 55 inquiries and sent 47 application packets to respondents. Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of Worl, Judy Anderson and Dave Racich, who will make recommendations to the board.

The board approved establishing an account with Farm Bureau Insurance for a tax sheltered annuity fund for all paid and volunteer members of the Emergency Medical Services. The board will not match any part of contributions.

Ambulance mechanical problems continued to be a concern and the board agreed to proceed with the purchase of one new unit immediately and not wait for grant funds which could take several months to be approved and received.

The Pinedale EMS presented a set of plans they would like to see for the new ambulance barn. They also received approval to proceed with establishing some initial medical response service for the Bondurant area.

Bill Schertz again exhorted the board to make plan changes in heating, ventilating and air conditioning in the new clinics. Schertz also suggested the Pinedale remodel plan be scrapped in favor of building a complete new structure which he felt could be done for less cost than the present remodel. This would allow continued operation of the existing clinic with no disruption in activities. Board members agreed that plans were too far along to make such changes at this point.