Next steps for the Hospital District
by Hospital District PAC
November 6, 2020
With the passage of the formation of a Special Hospital District, Sublette County starts a new chapter in healthcare for our community. While certain aspects of the process are still being determined, both the Rural Health Care District and the Sublette Center are excited to begin the process outlined by the Memorandum of Understanding that was developed in late February 2020.
For the time being, both the Sublette Center Board (a non-profit board) and the elected Rural Health Care Board will continue to function as they do currently. Under terms of the MOU, after the process of merging has taken place fully in mid-2021, both boards will then dissolve and the newly elected Hospital Board will take over. The Hospital District Board will be composed of the following members who were elected in the Nov 3rd election: Tonia Hoffman, Wendy Boman, Jamison Ziegler, Kenda Tanner and Brendan Fitzsimmons.
The application for USDA funding will be submitted very soon. Once approved, it will allow for the funding of the hospital portion of the new facility. The Board of County Commissioners has also allocated up to $20 million with the passage of the ballot initiative, so they will be assisting with the portion of the project that will fund a new Sublette Center. Both new facilities will be attached and built up on the hill adjacent to the current Pinedale Clinic building. One of the more exciting aspects to this partnership is that both entities will be able to share some services such as housekeeping, laundry and nutrition. They will also no longer compete with each other for staff, as they will be working together. The Big Piney / Marbleton Clinic will remain a part of the new Hospital system and is scheduled for some upgrades in 2021.
An important factor in acceptance of the application is the formation of a partnership with an experienced hospital entity. Currently, St. John's in Jackson, EIRMC in Idaho Falls and Star Valley have all three submitted proposals hoping to be our new partner company. A Joint Planning Committee that was formed after the signing of the MOU began the process of looking for partners, and will now work to transition that responsibility to the Hospital District Board to guide the decisions regarding our future partner. Our partner will provide guidance on everything from regulations and accreditation to quality assurance and electronic medical records which need to be in order before it can open. Being linked to a larger hospital in the region will improve the quality of care we can provide, give us larger purchasing power to keep supply costs down, offer better access to specialists, experience in new operations, and strengthen healthcare in Sublette County. Dawn Walker, Director of the Sublette Center notes "I am really encouraged by the experience level of our potential future partners and their commitment to quality, as evidenced by the amount of awards these facilities have received. I am really impressed by their visions for excellent patient care combined with fiscal responsibility."
Currently, tax payers pay 2 mils to the Rural Health Care District, which will transfer to the new Hospital District beginning July 1, 2021. At that time, a third mil will begin to be collected on properties in Sublette County, and designated to the Hospital District, as well.
The Sublette Center, the Rural Health Care Board, the Joint Planning Committee, and everyone who has worked so hard on this process look forward to continuing moving forward to provide excellent healthcare in Sublette County. To reach us with further questions or to keep up to date as the process moves along, please visit the website www.SubletteHospitalDistrict.org
|
