This fall, the Grant County Commission established a Taskforce to begin thoughtful discussions about Gila Regional Medical Center’s (GRMC) future. Guided by the goal of doing what’s best for the patients served by GRMC, this Taskforce has begun exploring whether GRMC should remain independent, or whether partnering with another health system is the best manner in which to secure Grant County’s healthcare future.

The decision to explore these options comes in light of the sweeping changes taking place in today’s healthcare industry. Like GRMC, rural hospitals across the country are exploring these same scenarios.

We are beginning this important work because families in our community count on us to make informed and thoughtful decisions so we can continue delivering high-quality, cost-effective care and a superior patient experience.

As we begin this process, we will explore whether remaining independent or entering into a partnership is the best way to:

• Provide resources needed to enhance and expand facilities and services so we can increase access to our patients;
• Recruit and retain physicians, nurses and other caregivers to Silver City so our patients can receive the care they need here at home;
• Provide the financial security GRMC needs to continue providing our patients with quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for generations to come.

We know the community is interested in the future of local healthcare and we are committed to keeping you informed. We are at the very beginning of a process that will take several months and will include internal assessment work with the goal of improving our hospital, as well as a thorough review of the options available to us to ensure we maintain the services we provide today in a way that can be sustained well into the future.

It is important for you to know that selling the hospital is not the sole objective of our work and no decisions regarding GRMC’s future have been made as a result of the Taskforce being formed and meeting. We are thoughtfully exploring all of the available options in order to make a fully informed decision about the future GRMC. Ensuring financial stability and continued high quality care are of the utmost importance to the Taskforce.

Be assured this will be a deliberate process. At the conclusion of this exploration and education work, the Taskforce will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners will then determine if a partnership or remaining independent is truly what’s best for GRMC, our patients and our community.

Together, we can protect what we have today and chart a path forward to secure the brightest possible healthcare future for Silver City.

Gila Regional Medical Center Taskforce Members

Taffy Arias                                            Dr. Michelle Diaz
GRMC CEO                                         GRMC Physician

Alicia Edwards                                     Brett Kasten
Grant County Commissioner               Grant County Commissioner

Jeannie Miller                                      Mike Morones
GRMC Board of Trustees                   GRMCBoard of Trustees

Dr. John Stanley                                Charlene Webb
GRMC Physician                               Grant County  Manager