July 23, 2024 |
Photo – MHCC Clinic – Bigfoot99 file photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County administrators emphasize the importance of keeping the financially struggling healthcare facility open.
Last month, Memorial Hospital Board of Trustee members asked the Carbon County Commissioners to consider adding the creation of a hospital district to November’s general election ballot.
If approved, the hospital district will impose a 3-mill property tax levy in Rawlins, Sinclair, Hanna, and certain unincorporated areas of the county. The tax would generate an additional $1.5 million a year.
Since that time, MHCC staff have made it clear that without the hospital district, the medical facility may be forced to close.
During the July 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Memorial Hospital Director of Strategic Operations Stephanie Hinkle said she has been working to educate the public about the hospital. Hinkle said her education campaign focuses on two topics: healthcare and economics.
Hinkle provided patient and staff statistics from last year.
Hinkle said 88% of the 14,678 registered hospital patients in 2023 were Carbon County residents. Commissioner John Johnson asked Hinkle to break down the number of county patients by location. Hinkle said specific location data is key to recognizing how important Memorial Hospital and its clinics are to Carbon County.
Hinkle spoke about the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, or HCAHPS, scores. On the nationwide survey, Hinkle said patients scored Memorial Hospital at or above the state average.
Hinkle said she posts the monthly HCAHPS scores throughout the hospital. Staff uses the reviews to determine where improvements are needed.
During their next meeting, on August 6th, the county commissioners will decide if the hospital district will be included on the November ballot. If approved, voters will also have to elect board members to run the hospital district.
Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones asked if anyone on the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees is interested in running for the hospital district board. Board President Rod Waeckerlin said he doesn’t know if any of the existing board will run.
Waeckerlin said Memorial Hospital is doing well, clinically. Patients say they’re pleased with the care they receive. However, Waeckerlin said the hospital is suffering from a lack of finances. The board president said thanks to a new office administrator and debt collector, things are looking up for the cash-strapped healthcare facility.
Waeckerlin said he hopes that anyone elected to the hospital district will continue the work he and the other board members have begun.
The filing period for hospital district board candidates runs from August 7th through the 26th.
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will decide whether the hospital district will be on the November ballot during their August 6th meeting. Waeckerlin has volunteered to be present during that meeting to answer questions from the public.
