by Brian Orr
HUERFANO- The Board of Directors of the Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center met over lunch on Monday to listen to a variety of status reports and discuss the anticipation of changing the Hospital’s mill levy for 2010.
The actual mills will be decreasing from 3.310 to 2.996. However, since property valuation in the County has increased from $113 million to $132 million, actual tax receipts are expected to increase from $353,549 to $373,846.
Veteran’s Nursing Home Director Gary Dickey reported that the Veteran’s Advisory Board was undergoing a transition, with a change of members and focus. The Board discussed the form and function of the group, and noted they would need to create a mission statement and bylaws, as the original group formed on its own. The basic role of the group is to advise and report veteran’s interests to the Board.
Dickey noted the current occupancy rate of the Nursing Home was 98 residents, above his goal.
He was also pleased to report a recent survey by the Veteran’s Administration had been completed, and early results looked to be deficiency-free. “The surveyors were really pleased,” Dickey stated.
He also noted that this year’s Veteran’s Day celebration at the Nursing Home will be on Nov. 7 instead of the traditional Nov. 11, to allow family members to attend over the weekend.
Hospital Director Todd Oberheu reported that State budget woes were affecting the hospital services, such as the HPV vaccination program, which has been completely cut, and the Cardiac Care Outreach program has been cut by 50%.
The hospital has changed recruiting companies for physicians,with one new doc coming out to be interviewed, and a surgeon from Pueblo signing on to do part-time work out of SPRHC.
