Code issues critical at hospital

I thank you for the information from the EARH board meeting in your Feb. 2 edition. One major topic discussed at this meeting, was not in the article, and I feel the community should be informed of this information, as it pertains to the possible closure of our hospital.

In late spring, it was brought to the attention of Mark Barglof and the Board of Commissioners that we had a very acute problem with the, “automatic transfer switch, electrical panel and the wiring in the facility.”

Barglof started to look into the problems. In June, we secured an emergency replacement of the automatic transfer switch.

Barglof, John McLean, our architect from Blue Room Architecture; Dylan Cunningham, an electrical engineer; the Building Committee and the board started aggressive research into fixing the problems. McLean and Cunningham both have extensive experience working with the state on rural hospital problems. The architect had to investigate how to redesign the wiring with our current facility, the electrical engineer came out many times to investigate his involvement with our current building.

In August 2011, the State Department of Health did their annual inspection and told us of the severe problems and they instructed that an investigation of our problems was to be conducted and action be taken to do the repairs. Barglof had assured them the process had been started. Barglof was keeping the State Department of Health informed as progress was being made. The Board could not make any recommendations or take action until they had all the information presented to them.

In November and December, Jeff Reynolds and Jerry Snyder were invited to join the Building Committee. All the above mentioned entities were doing their jobs and were ready to present to the community, and board, the cost and plan of action. The State had notified Barglof and the Board that a plan of action and cost plan had to be into the state immediately.

The incoming commissioners, Stacy Plummer, Jeff Reynolds and Jerry Snyder asked that no contracts or major decisions be made until the new commissioners started after Jan. 1, 2012. A meeting of the building committee was to propose a decision to the board.

Barglof wrote to the State Department of Health and explained about the new commissioners wanting to handle any concerns after they took office. The State sent correspondence to Barglof that they would give us an extension until Feb. 1, at which time a plan of action had to be initiated and a cost plan submitted. If the Board did not abide by this mandate, the designation of a Critical Access Hospital could be denied to EARH.

McLean proposed three plans of action and three costs to the Board of Commissioners on the evening of the public board meeting on Jan. 26, to be voted on by the board. Randy Stamper, designated attorney for the hospital district, advised the Board of Commissioners not to take action until he had time to look into the cost and proposals by the electrical engineer.

Many months of investigation and hard work had been put in, by many people, to come to these recommendations, only to be put off until a later time.

Why are we, as taxpayers, concerned about our hospital closing? The State Department of Health does not play games and has been generous with their extensions. All of the research and progress that has been done in the last six months has been ignored by the designated attorney and the new board members.

Our chance of losing our designation as a Critical Access Hospital is increasing, which could mean closing the doors. The decision of the board is crucial. We are running out of time.

Joyce Preston, Ritzville