SCRH board hears administrator report

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Rural Health Care Board met Wednesday. May 12, at the Pinedale Ambulance Barn to hear the final report from the administrator committee. All board members except Garry Eiden were present, along with committee members David Racich, Maxine Leckie, Judy Anderson, Robin Miley and Jay Anderson. Also attending were Dr. David Burnett and Dr. Judy Boyle.

Jay Anderson presented the findings of the committee, emphasizing that there should be no change in the current configuration of private practices in the clinics or in how they are managed. He suggested the position under consideration be labeled coordinator rather than administrator.

Because the complexities of health-care delivery and population in the county have grown significantly, management has moved beyond the point of a volunteer board being able to handle all aspects. With communications between the board and its funded agencies being poor, improvement in this area is imperative.

As the only committee member to disagree with the majority findings, Miley stated that he represented the position of many citizens who oppose adding a position of this type. Miley reported that the by-laws provide that one board member can be appointed to that job. He feels that any interference with clinic operations would result in the loss of the physicians we now have.

Judy Anderson reported to the board on qualifications they felt would be necessary as well as outlining areas where a coordinator could provide things not now fully addressed.

The person selected should have a master's degree in health services administration and at least five years of experience in a medical environment, with rural health and EMT background desirable.

The committee sees the coordinator as a facilitator, researcher, educator, arbitrator, recruiter, grant seeker and lobbyist. The cost of the position is anticipated to be $50,000 to $75,000 per year plus some 30 percent for expenses and benefits. The committee felt that this would be easily affordable given the fact that board income has more than doubled in the past two years and that the board currently has $3,437,000 in cash reserves. An efficient grant seeker could bring in several times his cost in grant money not now being received or pursued.

The board thanked the committee members for their efforts and asked if some of them would be available to assist in recruiting efforts to fill the position.