RHCB considers $50,000 per month for Sublette Center

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Rural Health Care Board met Tuesday evening, Jan. 23, in Pinedale with all members present and addressed a short agenda of housekeeping items. Paul Stille of Leo Riley and Company of Casper presented the annual audit results and commended the board for meeting all accounting requirements. No deficiencies were noted in that report.

Nora Farrand of the Pinedale Medical Clinic advised the board that the HIPAA remodel job will be completed by the end of the month at an estimated cost of $17,600. Andy McGinnis reported that the Marbleton-BigPiney Clinic needs to have one of four furnaces repaired or replaced as soon as possible due to poor maintenance and safety issues. McGinnis gave the board figures of $6,750 to repair the furnace and $9,750 to replace it. After extensive discussion by the board about getting other bids for the work, McGinnis pointed out that getting bids from other sources would delay any work by weeks, asking that the board show a little faith in his judgment. The board approved replacement of the defective furnace as proposed.

In emergency medical technician business, the board authorized the hiring of three full-time employees to be selected from some nine qualified applicants. Purchase of an ambulance light bar for $3,600 was also approved.

Debbie Wood of the Sublette Center addressed the board, asking for financial assistance to cover losses due to low census numbers at the center. The request, as presented, asked for some $250,000 to cover losses since July 2005. The board noted that any payments must be in the form of a contract for services and questioned its ability to pay for past losses. After discussion, the board approved preparation of a contract for services to pay $50,000 per month beginning Feb. 1 through June 30. Renewal will be reviewed for the new budget year that begins July 1.

A request for increased monthly payments to medical directors, laboratory directors and emergency medical service directors at the clinics was discussed and tabled for further review and adjustment.

Director Randy Johnson noted that Davis Partnership will be in Pinedale to do further design work on the Pinedale ambulance barn and the Pinedale clinic on Jan. 25 and 26. Johnson urged board members to attend those meetings so that they will be aware of and be able to contribute to any changes proposed. Board Chairman Jerry Jensen noted that he was hesitant to approve designs that he had not yet seen.

The subjects of data management and information technology were again brought up for discussion. No action was taken as no systems have been identified that will accommodate all the needs of the clinics and board administration. One proposal from Dan Farrand of Green River Computing in Pinedale was considered but the board will seek additional proposals from other sources if they can be identified.

The board then adjourned to executive session to discuss land acquisition, personnel issues and pending litigation. An executive session held on Jan. 18, attended by Dr. Judy Boyle and her attorney, Elizabeth Greenwood, was not discussed and no actions were taken as a result of the sesessions.