Commission chooses new chairman and vice chairman
By Mary Alice Murphy
The first item of business for the Grant County commissioners at their regular session on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 was to elect a new chairperson and vice chairperson.
Chairman Brett Kasten had told the commission that seven years of serving as chairman was enough and he intended not to stand for the position in 2018. He kept his word.
District 1 Commissioner Gabriel Ramos nominated District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings for the position. District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne said he had also shown interest in the position, and nominated himself.
Billings was chosen by a three to two vote. Kasten, Ramos and Billings voted for Billings as the chairman. District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards voted for Browne, as did the candidate.
By acclamation, Edwards was elected vice chairwoman.
Next on the agenda was the Gila Regional Medical Center monthly report by Chief Executive Officer Taffy Arias and Interim Chief Financial Officer JoBeth Vance.
"I think 2018 will be a very good year for Gila Regional," Arias said. "One of the most recent challenges for health care has been the shortage of IV bags all over the country. The company in Puerto Rico that made them has been out of business since Hurricane Maria. Some of the flu shots are also in short supply, because of the hurricane. There is a flu epidemic across the U.S. Young people in their 20s are dying. We haven't seen that in years. Usually, it's the elderly and children who are impacted most. Please, it's not too late, get the flu shot."
She said the hospital is still actively recruiting for leadership positions, as well as other positions. "We have a candidate coming in from New York for a family practice position. Next week, we have an ENT (ear, nose and throat) physician coming in to talk to us."
Arias said they had interviewed a chief quality officer, who is a physician's assistant, and extended an offer. "By Friday, we should know."
"We are still actively looking for CFO candidates," Arias said. "We interviewed one, but didn't get to the offer stage, because she had heard about the instability and uncertainty about the hospital. She wanted to work at a county-owned hospital because she works in a for profit and has worked in non-profit situations. I continue to have conversations with her, letting her know that the commission is investigating how to keep the hospital here, based on fiduciary concerns. We are still in conversation, but be aware that news releases make an impact on candidates. Instability brings uncertainty. We have to look at the quality of life. Our physicians are the best ones to support and promote our hospital."
Vance said the finances of the hospital continue to improve. "We had 149 visits. Our numbers are still slightly down because of the Cancer Center. Our ER visits are down for some reason at 1,200 and we were at 1,300 this time last year. We had 378 surgeries this year in November compared to 380 last November. Our receipts were $14.8 million compared to $16 million last year, primarily because of the Cancer Center. Our expenses this past November were $5.9 million compared to $6.3 million last year. In November, we had a negative $80,000. We're going in the right direction compared to a negative $141,00 last year. Our year-to-date is negative $4.6 million, compared to negative $5.1 million last year. This year our accounts receivable are taking an average 47 days compared to 58 last year. Our daily expenses are $187,000 compared to $200,000 last year."
She said the hospital is in the black so far for this month.
Billings said he expected the upward trend to continue.
"We do anticipate continuing to decrease expenses and to get more revenue through getting bills paid," Vance said.
Billings asked about the possibility of getting an additional oncologist per week for the Cancer Center.
"UNM is sending an extra oncologist each week in January," Arias reported. "We have weekly calls with UNM, if not more often."
Billings asked about the length of time to get an appointment, and said as the gap narrows from the amount of time to get an appointment in other places, it will improve the situation for Gila Regional's Cancer Center.
He said it was hard for him to hear the numbers and keep up with them. "If you could bring them in written form for us so we can process them." Vance said she would do that in the future.
The next article will begin with public comment, which was long and impassioned on two different issues—a letter to the Forest Service and a letter of support to Santa Clara concerning Fort Bayard. The commissioners ended up approving both, albeit with substantial changes.