The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

House Bill 20-1349, also known as The Colorado Option, has passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. Haxtun Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dewane Pace updated members of the Board of Directors on the house bill during a meeting in late May.

According to Pace, during the committee phase in the Senate, bill amendments can take place.

“We are watching carefully as the first change that has been proposed would remove all healthcare providers from being required to participate, except for hospitals,” Pace said. “This means that physicians and clinics that are not affiliated with a hospital would be exempt, leaving hospitals to shoulder the burden of the cost reductions alone.”

Other amendments, he said, would limit the option to only the individual market and another would sunset the legislation in 2031.

“This is a rapidly evolving and fluid situation that we are monitoring and working through the Colorado Hospital Association and Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium to protect the hospital,” said Pace.

During the May 24 meeting, Pace also gave an update on the main street clinic project. Recently, the old Smith Hardware building has been torn down and demolition is complete.

“This phase of the project was one of the most concerning phases as taking down an old building that touches two other buildings is not an easy task,” the CEO said. “Rick (Ensminger) and his team not only did an excellent job but also came in under budget.”

Pace said final drawings are complete and have been put out to bid. Hopes are to have proposals back within the next few weeks and then to select contractors to move into the next phase.

“During the next phase, you can expect to see a new basement dug, old basement filled in, underground plumbing installed, helical coils drilled and then a new building start to take shape,” said Pace.

During his report to the Board, Pace also gave an in-depth look into the Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium. Pace said Haxtun Health is a member of the EPHC, a group of 11 critical hospitals on the Eastern Plains that have come together formally to form an organization that is bigger than any one small hospital alone.

“The ability to negotiate as a larger entity coupled with the open and collaborative sharing of ways to improve care have proven valuable to all,” Pace said. “The goal is to help each hospital maintain its independence while improving its ability to provide healthcare for the communities they serve.”

Pace said that a recent study found that 120 rural hospitals across the country have closed their doors over the past 10 years. “Every critical access hospital on the Eastern Plains and across the country knows that this is an unfortunate possibility and we do everything we can every day to make sure that we are still here for our communities,” he said.

Pace said the EPHC has been able to lobby against financial cuts to hospitals, lowered the cost of supplies through a group purchasing organization, utilized a staff share program to prevent agency staffing, procured grant dollars to help launch new programs and is recognized as an organization of hospitals at the State and even the National level.

Hospitals who are a member of the EPHC include Haxtun Health, Sedgwick County Health Center, Melissa Memorial Hospital, Wray Hospital, Weisbrod Memorial Hospital, Kit Carson County Hospital, Yuma District Hospital, Lincoln Health, Keefe Memorial Hospital, East Morgan County Hospital and Southeast Colorado Hospital.

In talking about updates, Chief Community Relations Officer Julia Biesemeier gave an update on the infrastructure project happening at the main Haxtun Health Campus. She said primary subcontractors are working on phase one of the project and include Bayley Mechanical for the HVAC units, Economy for controls, Farha for roofing and Fetzer Electric for electrical. She said Haxtun Health facilities department recently underwent training on the controls system. She said Farah is hoping to begin roofing the Extended Care Unit the first part of June, pending arrival of materials.

Phase two, Biesemeier said, is still in progress with planning and development. Subcontractors are working on their individual plans and the administrative team is working on review of those plans.

“Some of the phase two work might begin as early as July,” she added. “The bulk of the work will begin in September and October.”

Haxtun Health recently applied for and received funding from the Department of Local Affairs for a significant portion of the infrastructure project. The original Haxtun Health building was completed in 1964 and much of the original infrastructure is still in place.

Biesemeier said interior work continues in the remodel of the Fleming Clinic. Currently, floors are being installed, cabinetry is being installed and the drop ceiling installation has begun. Hopes are to have a grand opening in July.

DOLA has also funded a portion of the remodel at the Fleming Clinic.

In other business:

• Chief Financial Officer Joleen Stroyek said total operating expenses were negative 11 percent under budget and year-to-date gross patient revenue, as of April 30, was $4,993,000, eight percent over budget. She said net income for the month end was $340,000;

• Director of Clinic Services, Tabitha Schanhals, resigned effective May 28, Haxtun Health is interviewing candidates for the position;

• New Lab Director Phillip Cobos started June 1;

• New Pharmacy Director Howard Kreisler has started at Haxtun Health;

• Credentialing was given to Gerard Ashbeck, DO, Locum Emergency Medicine.