img 0320Before the public input section, Grant County commissioners recognized the Silver City Lady Colts for their 8th consecutive state softball championship play with a proclamation.

[Editor's Note: This is part 2 of the County Commission meeting on June 12, 2018. This article features mostly the extended public input section of the combined work session and regular meeting.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Because the public input section was expected to be long, it was recommended that the proclamation honoring the Silver City Lady Colts for winning their 8th consecutive state softball championship be moved to before the input.

The first to speak during public input was Dr. Michelle Diaz.

"Thank you for allowing me to speak. It was important for me to be here because I was a part of the task force [looking at options for Gila Regional Medical Center]. For me it came back to the ability I have to work here as an individual physician. It's huge. We all did our due diligence. It’s important in my opinion that we have held the hospital accountable. It's an important piece. It's a cycle. The hospital has developed a strategic plan and timelines. It boils down to the people. They look like our sister, mother, cousin, brother. When you look at the different pieces of the financial puzzle, if it has taken this long to look at everything, we don't need to sell. The only one real plan we heard was from Gila Regional. As participants in the task force we wanted the best for our hospital. When you come full circle, there's a plan to mend fences for the good of the community. I haven't heard suitors present anything specific. A lot of the bleeding has been taken care of. I beg of you, as a provider, if you bring anyone else in to run the hospital, it will compromise the physicians. Give the hospital administration a chance. I planned to speak also on behalf of Dr. Stanley who could not come today, but I think I'm out of time. It's about a person and a community."

Commissioner Brett Kasten said he wanted to publicly thank Dr. Diaz and Dr. Stanley for their help on the task force. "We couldn't have gotten all the information we did without them."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos also thanked them for being open-minded.

Dr. Greg Koury said he was coming to the commission as an elected official of the Medical Executive Committee. "I make the argument to remain a county-owned hospital. The MEC is one of the best I've ever worked with. It's what's unique about here. We attract doctors who want to be here. I appreciate that Ms. (Chief Executive Officer Taffy) Arias is doing one heck of a job recruiting. We meet to make sure the recruits would bring us good service. The importance is for us to remain in charge." He read the MEC mission, vision and values. The vision is to recruit premier medical staff and to retain them.

"The medical staff you have succeeds," Koury said. "My job as the elected official is to protect them. I believe it is best done by a county-owned hospital. We are engaged and dedicated. This group of MEC members all show up every month to the meetings. To the financial aspects, we want to lend our credibility and integrity. The MEC, made up of the majority of the hospital's medical staff, recommended unanimously for Gila Regional Medical Center to remain county-owned. We ask that you give this administration the opportunity to succeed. This administration along with the physicians want this to remain county-owned. We want to make the County Commission proud."

This author was asked by her physician, Dr. Colicia Meyerowitz, to read her (the doctor's) statement to the commissioners, as she was seeing patients. "My patients come first above all else, so I thank you for your consideration and understanding. Since my move to Silver City, almost 15 years ago, I have been dedicated to working my hardest to provide the best care feasible to my patients. I initially came to Silver City, due to its having such a well-equipped hospital in such a small community. … I could not ask for a better team to work with, including janitors, unit clerks, CNAs, respiratory therapists, therapists, nurses, administrative personnel, administrators, doctors, supervisors and the list goes on. It would truly be a travesty to see such a tightly-knit system be broken over an emergent decision of a currently non-emergent problem."

She went on to say that she is not only a physician, but a team leader, having been Chair of the "Peer Review" Committee for three terms, in addition to serving as a member of the ByLaws Committee, as well as on the MEC. "Quality care is what matters most. With our current administration, I have seen instant improvement in the financial situation/strains with immediate solutions provided and enacted. This allows us, as providers, to do what we do best and take care of patients. I plead with you with the best interest of my patients in mind to PLEASE [capitalized words by Meyerowitz] allow the current administration to proceed with its plan. If we do not see continued progress, then the system can be reassessed at that juncture. There is not a logical need to expedite your process at this time; a year ago, I may have felt differently, but DEFINITELY NOT NOW."

Meyerowitz continued by saying if the situation turns the corner in the negative, she would suggest reconsidering options, including allowing all of the doctors on the Juniper Task Force/Review Committee the opportunity to visit the other interested facilities to be able to provide the most well-rounded evaluation possible. This time only two out of five physicians on the committee were privy to the opportunity to travel to facilities operated by the potential purchases. "This was not only disheartening but concerning as to the fairness of the process." She also requested that public forums be held at an hour when the working public could attend, i.e. after working hours.

Kasten commented that one public forum was held at 6:30 p.m.

Ken Ladner said he was speaking not as Silver City mayor, but as a member of the Silver City community. "I have received a tremendous amount of input from the community relative to the Gila Regional Medical Center. The overwhelming majority of people who have contacted me, as well as myself, would like to see the hospital stay under local administration."

He said, while he was confident that the commissioners' considerations and due diligence would justify the ultimate decision, "I would like to stress the importance of the intangible benefits to the community of a locally owned and operated hospital. These benefits are not easily calculated in financial terms but are of significant importance to the overall decision."

"The value of local operation and control of the hospital through a Board of Trustees appointed by the County Commission ensures the prevalence of local community values," Ladner said. "The power to hire and fire the administrator and to set policies for the efficient and professional operation of the hospital is of great value to the community. An integrated health care system mindful of local needs and community values is a desirable circumstance."

He alleged that contracting out hospital administration to national management companies or selling the hospital to a national corporation has the potential of profit margins being the dominant concern rather than favorable medical outcomes and community involvement. "Shareholders often get preference over local community concerns."

Ladner said he is aware of efforts by the Board of Trustees in managing finances and creating a team of administrators to further the common goal of a stable, sustainable, and financially viable hospital, sensitive to the needs and concerns of the community. "It is my hope that the new administration will be given sufficient time, and the confidence of the Grant County Commission, to accomplish their stated goals."

He also expressed his appreciation to all for the tremendous amount of time, effort, research, analysis and thought dedicated to the issue.

Dave Martino, who said he has lived in Grant County for about 11 years, said he was a computer engineer in California, where he had unhappy experiences. "I hope you realize what a jewel you have in Gila Regional Medical Center. In California, my experiences led me to believe the staff was trying to kill us. My wife and I have had five life-threatening issues here and we were treated by the most caring people ever. And we're here to prove it."

He said all corporations care about is the earnings per share. "About Lifepoint, I talked to my broker and he said they are on the ropes and not to buy them. The RNs could make more elsewhere, but they stay here because of the good people here. A hospital is nothing more than people. Every test I needed was available here. My wife would not be standing here upright, except for your hospital. If you sell the hospital, people will leave, retirees like me. In my opinion, if you sell the hospital off to a corporation, people will die; the corporation will be chintzing on supplies, tests and salaries."

Don Luhrsen of the Lower Mimbres said he has been around the county "a while. I've heard the good and the bad, usually about accountability at the hospital. I thank the commissioners for seeking accountability. The current staff and administration of the hospital want to be held accountable."

Harold Bray said he has had excellent care at Gila Regional, including two knees and a hip, and "I'm still able to play golf. I have worked in all four counties of southwest New Mexico. I know most of the people use Gila Regional. Have the other counties been approached to help the hospital financially?"

Linda Pafford said she would like to reiterate and support the statements made previously. "Keep the hospital county-owned. There's not only the threat of a corporation just walking away, but our county facility owned and managed by us will stay. You will go into executive session. We won't hear your discussion and reaching a decision, but one thing continues to trouble me. The new manger is doing well; you will choose two new board members today; why not give them all a chance? This is simply premature."

Chris DeBolt said she proudly worked at Gila Regional Medical Center for almost 10 years. When I left the hospital, things looked bleak, and the unfortunate situation led to your decision to evaluate the hospital and its options. "Since then a new administrative team has begun to turn things around. The best decision at this point in time is to maintain and retain the hospital as a county-owned facility, with you as partners with the Board of Trustees. What the community believes is what the health care providers believe. If the trajectory of the hospital goes south, you have information."

"You have a diamond in the rough," DeBolt said. "The hospital has no debt and it has received quality awards. That doesn't happen in a vacuum. I'm asking that you give the administration and staff an extended opportunity to prove themselves. I worked at this hospital during the prior turmoil. I support our quality leadership that has made a difference."

Rachel Medina said she was speaking from the heart. "I know all of you personally. I was going to leave New Mexico and not stay in the state of entrapment, but 18 years ago, I lost my vision and felt paralysis in my body. I went to specialists in Las Cruces and Albuquerque. I was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis). All that took place in Silver City. I have an excellent doctor. We have an excellent hospital. I can't tell you how important it is to keep the hospital managed here. What an amazing caliber of hospital staff you have here. I ask you to give Ms. Arias and her team the opportunity to do the best they can. In the short time I have known her, she has made a lot of changes, and they are to the good. I'm afraid if you sell the hospital, I won't be able to keep my treatment here. For those who desperately need excellent care, you have the best care available right here."

Commission Chairman Billy Billings read the letter from Dr. John Stanley, who like Dr. Meyerowitz apologized because he had patients to see. "My position hasn't changed from wanting to keep the hospital independent. Remaining independent would require oversight and benchmarks that must be met by the Board of Trustees with input from the county. I suggest the chairman of the Board of Trustees report to the County Commission every month with meaningful updates and progress. Failure to make progress would bring consequences. The detailed Gila Regional Medical Center proposal was the only proposal received that got down to the nuts and bolts and gave specifics on how to enhance revenue. Our task force decided early on that remaining independent or partnering with a knowledgeable partner were the only realistic choices.

"It was a surprise to me and other task force members that during the Lifepoint presentation, a sale was the option out there," Stanley's letter continued. "When two suitors dropped out, another from Arizona was added to the presenters' agenda. We had never discussed this entity at our meetings. The Juniper Group, of course, stands to receive a hefty commission, it sounds like, if the hospital gets a partner or is sold. Although I am not sure all the information the commissioners were receiving was shared with the task force, and this would limit our decision-making ability, I do believe the commissioners are acting in good faith and doing due diligence on what is best for the community. I was and still am in agreement that an entity needed to be hired to evaluate the hospital independently. I thought Juniper could have done a more detailed analysis of GRMC, its viability and changes that needed to be made. If the County Commission were to make a decision to sell, I would have several very important comments to make that I made at various meetings. One, the sale price should be well over $40 million dollars and I would suggest closer to $60 million, given the revenue enhancements by the GRMC CFO. To accept less that this would seem inappropriate given the projections by Richard Stokes. A serious professional lawyer would have to negotiate the contract, so the hospital is not taken advantage of. Input should be derived from the physician community and others on things that are completely non-negotiable. No. 3, the principal amount received, whether lump sum or periodic payments, would be completely protected from politicians and others who would squander it away, leaving nothing to show for the sale. The interest could be used for other projects. That hits the high points."

[Editor's Note: the next speaker was difficult to hear.]

Jim Greenwood said the community puts their trust in health care providers. "There is nothing more personal than health care. In life three things are important—birth, illness and death. People who care for you will see you naked at the beginning and naked at the end. It's the only place we put such trust. You question what will best serve the community. Today you will make a decision. The decision is not easy. A corporation has people to look at an opportunity. They are hostages to their stock prices. Gila Regional will have to provide enough to make it worthwhile for their investment. If there isn't enough, the hospital will be a bus stop on the way to Las Cruces."

He said some might remember a multi-million-dollar corporation that had a short stint in Silver City. It didn't close because it wasn't making a profit; it closed because the market was too small. "They were a corporation making corporate decisions."

"Commissioners will come and go," he continued. "Few will make the impact you will on our daily lives."

Brian Clark, who works in Gila Regional emergency room, said he sees support for the hospital as county-owned. "I hear: 'I don't know how I will pay my bill.' I say: 'Take care of that later.' The administration is working on a plan. I care for my patients. I worked for a non-profit organization. I could make more money elsewhere, but it's just dollars. I treat my patients here as family. I choose to stay here. We spoil our people in the community by how we care for them. I honestly believe you need to stay county-owned and community-run."

Mike Morones, a Board of Trustee member, said he was speaking as a community resident. "My parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents have all come together to build Hillcrest, and then Gila Regional." Morones said. "They all paid for this community hospital, so the community is served and not for profit. They knew they didn't want to lose money, but they mostly wanted to provide services. I'm willing to pay property taxes on our future hospital or on bonds for expansion. We want to do that to keep local control, instead of feeding shareholders in other places. We have no profit motive, but we want to break even. We are willing to break even. The hospital is working toward that. We intend it for our future citizens, so they do not fear the future trustees or the future commissioners. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, like you, wanted to provide services."

The next article will cover the choice of new Board of Trustee members.

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