From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 6, Number 43 - January 18, 2007
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

RHCD: Administrator deal pending

by Cat Urbigkit

The Sublette County Rural Health Care District board met in Marbleton Wednesday night, Jan. 10, with all board members present with the exception of Garry Eiden Sr.

RHCD Director Randy Johnson reported that Dr. Kappenman is now on board and would begin seeing patients late in the week. Another doctor has signed his letter of intent, so that means Pinedale gets two new doctors.

“We need another practitioner at Pinedale,” Pinedale Physician’s Assistant Kris Roork reminded the board. Roork has been a key figure in guiding the board’s efforts at physician recruitment. She told the board that with the board’s blessing, she plans to pursue a person who is currently serving as a locum and try to get that person on board full time.

Board member Dave Racich told Roork to keep up her good work, because the “number-one priority isn’t clinics, it isn’t an administrator, but it’s doctors.”

Racich also reported that the board is close to having a clinic administrator hired. Racich said that the man is “going to be an asset to the community,” and he “realizes the quagmire we are in.” Racich added that the administrator could be moved and begin working for the district as soon as within four weeks.

That brought up the subject of the district’s computers and billing systems.

“If this individual (the administrator) comes on, we’ll probably scrap what we have,” he said. “We’re losing money with what we have.”

Johnson reported on progress of construction of the new Pinedale Medical Clinic, telling the board that the steel is set to arrive Feb. 15, just as the new ambulance barn is getting finished up.

Johnson also told the board that the newly hired clerk of the works, Brian Gray of WLC of Pinedale, submitted a revised bid for the job, stating that he had significantly underestimated the amount of time the job would require. Noting that Gray wasn’t present at the meeting, and the revised bid totaled $40,000, which is an increase of $15,000, the board declined to take action until Gray attends a meeting with the board to discuss the matter.

Pinedale resident Bill Schertz gave the board an overview of his recommended improvements to the Marbleton facility’s site plan, which he said would increase effectiveness, cost less and provide for future expansion. His recommendation included purchasing the property on which The Flick currently sits. Big Piney resident Paul Scherbel provided comments as well. Board Chairman Bill Budd notified everyone that no decision has been made on site plans at this time, and that a committee from the Marbleton area will be created to assist the architects, once the deal for the property purchase is made.

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