By Candie Fix

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With significant growth in many of the services now offered at Haxtun Health comes the possible need for expansion. While exact plans for the new space is still unknown at this time, Haxtun Health has purchased the old Smith Hardware building in downtown Haxtun, which gives the organization potential opportunities for future growth.

According to information provided by Chief Executive Officer Dewane Pace, Haxtun Health purchased the building along the 100 block of South Colorado Avenue for $78,500 in mid-September. The Haxtun Hospital Board of Directors discussed the purchase, in executive session during a meeting in July, and according to Pace, gave unanimous support to proceed with the purchase.

“The plan is still being evaluated and developed and no final decision has been made yet,” Pace said. “We do know that it opens up future potential opportunities for us and for the health of our community. Haxtun Health has a strong desire to engage the community for feedback on the use of the space.”

The opportunity to acquire property on the main street in Haxtun happened over the summer and Pace said administration began having conversations around the potential for Haxtun Health.

“We have seen significant growth in many of the services that we offer our community and need more space. We also would like to help the Town of Haxtun by possibly opening another business on Main Street. What that business looks like and what it would be is still under discussion and we would like to solicit as many ideas and opinions as possible before proceeding with a plan. We are excited at the potential opportunity of what this could be and how it might help Haxtun.”

Pace said a survey is available at HaxtunHealth.org for community members to give their constructive insight into the future uses of the property.

“I am hopeful that all will see this as a positive for our community,” said Pace.

Pace gave an update on the recent purchase during a late-September meeting while also giving news of rapid COVID testing available in Haxtun to HHD board members. Pace said that with re-opening of schools and resuming social events, HHD has seen more COVID cases in the past few weeks than the facility had seen during the entire pandemic. “The good news is that we now have the ability to perform rapid testing for COVID right here in Haxtun,” he said. “This is one of the necessary requirements to help our County re-open and now we have that ability in the new lab at Haxtun Hospital.”

At the time of his report, Pace said Phillips County had a total of 33 cumulative positive COVID cases.

At the start of the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Joleen Stroyek told board members that August was another strong month for the hospital. In addition, she said she is closely following several pieces of legislation on a few bills that could affect COVID funding. She is watching those as the definition of lost revenue is narrowed to give specific guidelines on what will be considered lost revenue.

Stroyek said the acute care unit had a total of 83 patient days compared to a budget number of 58. HHD is 43 percent over budget for August and 19 percent over budget year-to-date. The ECU, extended care unit, had an average daily census of 17.8 in August compared to the budget number of 19.8.

Clinics, she said, had a total of 456 visits for the month which brings numbers to 3,120 for the year. Those numbers are six percent over budget for the month and eight percent under budget year-to-date.

In the Chief Nursing Officer report, Lea White told board members that visitation to the ECU has re-opened and that visitors can call to set up a time to visit. Visitors are screened upon entry and required to wear a mask. Visits can take place in a private room, outside or in the ECU dining room, White said.