Five applicants present to Grant County commissioners for Hila Regional Medical Center board seats

Six applicants spoke to commissioners June 9 seeking appointment or reappointment to the Hila Regional Medical Center board of trustees. Candidates outlined experience and priorities, and commissioners asked questions about public availability, conflict resolution and how trustees should interact with hospital management.

What candidates said: - Christine Debolt described her decade of service at the hospital and emphasized community partnerships and public communications: she said she wanted the board to help “have much more presence, the positive presence of the hospital” and to support service lines for aging populations. - Dr. Fred Fox, who said he has served on the board for the past three years and as chair, framed the board’s role as oversight: “we are not to manage the hospital except under dire circumstances,” he told commissioners and described regular reporting and joint meetings with the commission. - William Hawkins and Betty Vega emphasized continuity and financial oversight: Vega described her role as finance committee chair and said recent recruitment and equipment purchases have improved service capacity. - Dr. Kimberly Petrovvic and other applicants highlighted clinical experience and a focus on teamwork, outreach and access for rural patients.

Why it matters: The board oversees strategy and financial accountability for the county-owned hospital, a major regional health provider. Candidates emphasized recruitment of providers, expanding appropriate service lines (including senior services) and better public communication.

Next steps: Commissioners thanked applicants; appointments are on the regular meeting agenda for formal action later this week.

Attribution: The above quotes and descriptions are drawn from candidates’ remarks and commissioners’ questions recorded during the June 9 work session.