By Rex Hogan/Staff writer
Mayor Matt White held his first Parkview Hospital and ambulance service committee meeting Tuesday and at least two people expressed skepticism about the worthiness of the panel.
One was Becky Smith, wife of Parkview Administrator Lex Smith.
Smith’s comments came toward the end of the meeting.
She told White that he “already had the reports” about the operation of the hospital.
“If people are so upset, why weren’t they at the OSU meeting,” she said, referring to a study Parkview commissioned Oklahoma State University to conduct.
After the meeting, she said operation of Parkview Hospital is a complex issue and it is difficult for El Reno residents to understand the problems because there are so few college graduates in the community.
“I have a degree. It’s in math,” she said.
Also, Vicki Myers, owner and director of Russell-Murray Hospice, said she was concerned that White had not selected “one representative from the health-care community” to serve on the seven-person panel, that White chairs.
“I believe making rash decisions will have long-term negative effects on our community,” Myers said.
“The mayor selected those committee members himself and I believe to even the selection committee, it should have a broad range of members.
“Because there is such a need for quality health care, I think we should be cautious on decisions made about health care because it’s in a crisis in our state and community and it is a complex system. It requires a lot of thought and effort,“ Myers said.
She said her comments were made from her professional experience as a registered nurse, and not as an official with her hospice organization.
White formed the panel recently to study issues related to Parkview and its administration of the local ambulance service.
Last year, Parkview reported losing a little more than $1 million. At the end of this fiscal year, June 30, it appears the city-owned hospital will again lose roughly $1 million, including a $300,000 subsidy that the city kicks in to subsidize the ambulance service.
Parkview Hospital is run by an authority, with its members appointed by the City Council.
In addition to the OSU study, another study was conducted on the hospital about two years ago. Two weeks ago the Parkview Authority authorized a third $27,500 study to look into operations of the hospital. White voted against paying for the study.
“The reason I asked for this is basically we’re looking at Yukon doing another $20 million expansion, then you have Kingfisher that is getting ready to break ground on their hospital,” White said, referring to the expansion of Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. “I think it’s time to take a fresh look at things, get a second pair of eyes on it. There was a time when Parkview was the only hospital in the county. It isn’t any more.
“All we’re trying to do is look and see where the money is at. There’s no point in making this a witch hunt like some people think it is,” White said.
Panel member Naomi Davis said the panel shouldn’t be criticized before it begins its work.
“I don’t understand why there would possibly be a problem with someone looking at something for a better deal. This is not costing anyone anything, but our time,” Davis said.
White said the panel would look at a wide range of topics including follow-ups of previous studies of the hospital, employee pay and benefits, Parkview’s role in the county health system, and the ambulance service subscription plan.
He said the panel could interview hospital staff and community leaders and serve “open record” requests to the hospital for various records if necessary.