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

The Haxtun Health Board of Directors meet for a regular scheduled late May meeting in which two existing members took an oath of office to serve another term on the local Board. Jeri Soens took her oath of office to serve an additional four-year term following her election to the Board. Soens took her place following elections this spring. An official election was canceled as Soens was the only interested candidate who completed all necessary paperwork to run for a seat on the Board of Haxtun Health. Following her oath, Jeff Firme was appointed to fill a vacancy left on the Board following election season. He will serve until the next general election. Firme serves as the Board Secretary/Treasurer.

After members were sworn in and at their respective places around the table, the Board moved onto reports including one from Chief of Staff Dr. Ben Stephenson. The local Doctor said that while there has been an uptick in COVID cases in Colorado due to the new Omicron 3 variant, local numbers remain low.

“It is unknown if this is going to continue through the summer and if it will lead to increased hospitalizations,” Dr. Stephenson said in his report. “In our immediate area, COVID has been virtually absent for the last few months, however, we continue to follow current CDC guidelines in the hospital.”

Dr. Stephenson also talked about new staff members within the Haxtun Health organization. He said Dr. Megan McKenna, General Surgeon in Wray, has begun seeing patients.

“We have already transferred two surgical patients to her,” he said. “The patient follow up has been positive, it appears she is going to be a great surgical option for our patients.”

Additionally, Haxtun Health has added Val Meredith, CRNA Anesthesiologist from Wray, to the team. Dr. Stephenson said she is set to begin interventional pain procedures here in Haxtun.

“Along with the procedures Dr. Quickert carries out, Meredith will be able to perform cervical procedures with our new C-arm,” he added.

Dr. Stephenson also reported that Haxtun Health providers recently took part in an informational meeting with the Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation, a Colorado based non-profit that supports cancer patients through essential needs grant programs. Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation helps patients pay for housing, utilities and food while they are undergoing treatment as well as mental health support programs aimed at helping patients and their families.

In closing, Dr. Stephenson aid now that all providers are back in the clinic full time, patient numbers for March and April have improved and are trending better than this time last year.

Chief Executive Officer Dewane Pace also provided a report to Haxtun Health board members. He said the Colorado Physicians Insurance Company recently performed an onsite quality review and facility assessment of Haxtun Health. The five major areas of how Haxtun Health provides care for patients were all met, he said, indicating safe and high-quality care.

“An in-depth review of medical practices, quality indicators, safety and outcomes were all carefully examined and found to be excellent,” Pace said. He commended the medical staff, nursing and clinical team for the care they provide every day.

Pace said he recently visited Washington, D.C. and spent several days on Capitol Hill talking to congressmen about rural healthcare and Haxtun. He met with Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Barrasso, Senator John Hickenlooper, Congressman Ken Buck, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Congressman Joe Neguse, Congressman Jared Huffman, and Congressman Sam Graves along with representatives from several healthcare organizations.

Pace said he asked for help with the following items that affect Haxtun Health:

• Sequestration – Medicare is set to reduce what they pay Haxtun Health by two percent starting next month. The ask was that this either be eliminated or at least postponed;

• Congressionally Directed Spending – both Colorado senators were asked to give consideration to Haxtun’s request for funding to continue improvements to the hospital;

• Senate Bill 3105 – Senator Michael Bennett is sponsoring the Hospital revitalization Act, much like the Hill Burton Act from 1946 that provided funds to hospitals. This act would provide funding for capital improvements;

• House Resolution 6400 – Congressman Sam Graves is sponsoring the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act that would improve the way rural hospitals are paid in an effort to help them stay viable and continue to provide care to rural America.

“Overall, a very positive response form most Congressmen and good dialogue around the topics discussed,” Pace said.