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Five announce for county hospital district 2014 board elections

HUERFANO — Five individuals, including two incumbents, have announced their candidacy for the three open seats on the Huerfano County Hospital District Board of Directors. Both Al Tucker and David Gnaizda will seek another four-year term in the May election. They are joined by candidates, Ron Nielsen, Dr. Paul Coe (a past appointed board member), and Kathy Brown. All of the board positions are four-year terms and are elected at large, covering voters across Huerfano County. The open seats for this year’s election are those held by incumbents Tucker and Gnaizda, and that of Dr. David Zehring, who is term-limited this year. During the regular February 27, 2014 board meeting, board members toured the lab at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center with lab director Sherry Freese, as part of their continuing monthly presentation by a department manager. Board members

also discussed the possible donation of the three large paintings currently on display at Museum of Friends in Walsenburg. As a quasi-governmental entity, the board took the position not to donate the artwork, but to allow it to remain on display at the MoF during their current installation. Although there currently is no wall space at SPRHC, the artwork will be coming back in the future. The board adopted a policy procedure that formally states that board business, discussions or votes will not be conducted via email. This has never been the practice, but the board wanted to memorialize the policy in writing. In his report to the board, SPRHC CEO Todd Oberheu said the hospital is on track for a go live date of April 1, 2014 for the Healthland Centriq installation. “Upon completion of the project, we will have a comprehensive electronic medical record for the hospital. Employees are going through intensive training on the new system, and future steps will include implementation of a patient portal and eventually submission of data to CORHIO,” he said. Oberheu also said the maintenance, fiscal services, laboratory and material management offices were recently awarded the Chairman’s Award for excellence with employee retention. He noted the Family Clinic has received notice they have been recertified as a Level 2-Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee on Quality Assurance. In the area of service, Oberheu reported funds raised at the golf tournament have been used to pay for medical supplies donated to La Veta Schools for use by their coaching staff. The Foundations annual Wine Tasting Event was held Feb. 22 at the Career Building Academy and over $5,300 was raised and an estimated 117 people attended. These funds will go to scholarships for graduating Huerfano County seniors. Oberheu also reported Pat Pritchard and Sherry Gomez have been nominated for the Southeastern Colorado Nightingale Award for 2014. In the area of finance, Oberheu said, “In addition to her work to implement Centriq, Cindy Brooks has done a great job ensuring the facility is obtaining its reimbursement through the federal Meaningful Use program. She informed me that we just received $168,000 from the Medicaid program for the hospital’s compliance with the program.” In news from the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home – Walsenburg, Director Marty Schlink reported the name Colorado State Veterans Home, is being used for marketing purposes only. “This is a practice other Colorado State Homes have adopted and is targeted toward the culture change movement,” Schlink said. She reported the final spending of the renovation grant is being completed with the purchase of a pressure washer as well as communication and computer needs for the conference room. She also said a grant application has been submitted to the Colorado State Veterans Trust Fund for purchase of security cameras to further enhance the safety of residents. In other news Schlink reported, “We recently had a week-long visit with Colorado Hospital Association to pilot a program that will define the Continuity of Operations Plan in the face of a disaster. All departments were interviewed and plans that we developed through our East Peak Fire will be used,” she said. “Risa Berry and Michele Crosson have both been asked to present at an upcoming presentation by CHA their successfulplan they developed,” she added.

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

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