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Council members raise concerns about hospital funding, staffing and facility constraints
Summary
Council members described funding troubles at the local hospital after a failed bond, discussed a 3–5 year plan to boost revenues before another levy attempt, and flagged operational constraints (limited exam rooms, ADA compliance issues, structural/geo concerns and differences in rural health reimbursement rates).
Council members reported concerns about the local hospital's finances and capacity after participating in a hospital call and learning about a failed bond effort. One council member said the discussions suggested "it's gonna get dire in the next 5 years" if a solution is not found, and said they planned to continue attending meetings to see whether local officials can help.
Another council member described early planning the hospital is pursuing: a possible 3–5 year plan to increase revenues before asking for another levy; consideration of leasing or upgrading existing off-campus clinic space (noting ADA compliance issues); a grant award to install a new CAT scan; and geotechnical checks after concerns about hillside cracking near campus infrastructure. The council member also described payment differentials tied to the hospital's rural-health designation: "they get $330 for every encounter, because they're a rural health hospital ... if they have a clinic that's off campus, they'd get about ... $33," a point raised as part of the revenue discussion. Council members signaled they will continue engagement with hospital leaders.
