Concerns about hospital board transparency
Dear Editor:
Thank you for publishing my letter last week – the opportunity to publish our concerns is better than being publicly scorned as my wife was at the Feb. 25, 2025 PMC meeting. Thank you also to our friend and neighbor Annie, for standing up in the March meeting and speaking against how local citizens were treated for attempting to ask questions in a public meeting, we appreciate your courage, it takes a lot.
My wife and I have stated many times; “we love our community, our hospital, along with it’s providers and staff,” this will always hold true but we, along with several other local citizens, have many questions and concerns about how our community hospital is currently being managed and management’s open disregard for public meeting rules and the laws, which govern us.
We are concerned our community hospital is being governed by a five-member board, (the majority of which have not been duly elected by the public), instead of seven members as voted on by the people in 2006 and in the original bylaws. We believe this has led to a lack of transparency and accountability to the local community, all at the direction of a CEO, who is employed by an out-of-state management company.
The lack of transparency, doing the public’s business behind closed doors for the past three-plus years, is most concerning. This is evidenced by the fact, according to PMC minutes, published on their website (pioneershospital.org), since February 2022, the board goes into executive session every meeting, violating many Colorado Sunshine Laws, not recording the executive sessions and saving the recording for 90 days, as required by CRS 24-6-401 — every meeting!
We were asked to leave a financial meeting in February, being told by the unelected board president, it was not open to the public, although all five board members were in attendance, again violating open meeting laws. We have attended the past two monthly board meetings where the financial report read by the board president, PMC is operating at a loss of $168,000 at the end of February 2025, on more than $8.5 million in revenue!
We have many questions and are still waiting for answers from the questions submitted in the February meeting, which could help answer some of the financial questions like; “why is our community hospital losing money and how much are we paying an out of state management company and it’s CEO Liz Sellers, to not tell us?”
What is most disappointing to me as a local citizen and friend of many of our providers and staff is; they are more loyal to the money-losing, out-of-state management company and its CEO than they are to the locals who voted to tax themselves and their businesses to create the ERBC Health Services District, using public funds to build the world-class facility they work in. In my humble opinion, we can do better ourselves!
Regarding another letter to the editor, in last week’s edition by a PMC employee, writing; “multiple members of our staff, not just leadership — received threatening letters at their homes.” My wife contacted the Chief of Police and our county Sheriff and neither had received reports of threatening letters at people’s homes. Please know, we do not condone violence of any kind.
We have an election coming up May 6, 2025, with six qualified candidates and one Kim Tedford, who is openly violating her Oath of Office and the Colorado Constitution by getting on the ballot after being term limited in 2022 (total disregard of rules and laws) — we encourage everyone to vote — for transparency, honestly and the pursuit of local control of our community hospital.
Sincerely,
Bobby Gutierrez
Meeker
Troubled by bullying and harassment
Dear Editor:
I’m writing because I’m deeply troubled by how our hospital employees and leadership here in Meeker are being treated. There’s been a wave of bullying and harassment aimed at them, driven by unfounded rumors and conclusions that just aren’t backed by facts or reason. It’s disheartening to see hardworking healthcare professionals and leaders, who dedicate themselves to caring for our community, being met with hostility instead of gratitude.
Our hospital leadership and employees came to PMC with a shared mission: to provide compassionate care and support the growth and well-being of our town. But instead of being met with appreciation, they’re now facing threats, hostile notes at their homes, confrontations in public places, and even verbal attacks in employee-only areas on the hospital campus. It’s heartbreaking and unfair to see those who give so much of themselves to help others being treated like this.
What’s especially frustrating is that PMC leadership has always been open to questions and encouraged respectful, thoughtful conversations. They’ve made real efforts to respond and provide clear, honest answers, yet it feels like, no matter what they do, those efforts are dismissed. The torrent of misinformation and misplaced outrage just keeps spreading. At some point, we need to ask ourselves whether we’re truly willing to listen and understand—or if we’re more invested in holding onto anger.
Recently, I was discussing this situation with a community member, and I was honestly shocked when their advice was to tell hospital employees to “keep their heads down and just take it” until the election was over. Frankly, I refuse to suggest that anyone endure that kind of mistreatment. No one should have to just “take it” when they’re facing hostility and harassment. At what point do we remember that we’re all human beings, trying to do the best we can with the tools and resources we have? We owe it to one another to reject the idea that enduring abuse is just part of the job.
Meeker has always been known as a welcoming place — a community where strangers become neighbors and, eventually, lifelong friends. We took pride in being a place where new faces felt at home. But this hostile climate is changing that, and it’s making it hard for our community to grow. The hospital is a cornerstone of our town, and when we push people away with hostility and unfair accusations, we’re damaging more than just the hospital — we’re hurting the future of Meeker.
We’re better than this. Healthcare professionals give so much of themselves to help us when we need it most, and they deserve respect and compassion in return. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the right people and have an honest, respectful conversation. Let’s make sure we’re building each other up rather than tearing each other down.
It’s time to pause, reflect, and let go of the anger. Let’s get back to being the kind of community that welcomes and supports each other – locals and strangers alike.
Natalie Scritchfield
(Once a stranger, now a local.)
Meeker
Tedford announces candidacy for hospital board
Dear Editor:
My name is Kim Brown Tedford and I am running for election for a four-year term on the PMC Hospital Board, said election to be held May 6 in the Special District Election. Legal counsel has verified my candidate eligibility, and I would appreciate your consideration and vote.
I have lived in Meeker for over 40 years now, and during that time was privileged to serve on the PMC Board for 8 years, with my last term expiring in 2022. Note — my first term was earned by submitting a self-nomination form in 2014. My second term in 2018 was an elected term (Please see Herald Times Archives 05/10/18, Page 1, District Election Results). I was appointed by the Board in 2024 to complete the remaining portion of Jeff Eskelson’s term, who moved away from our community.
During my years in Meeker, in addition to serving on the hospital board, I have been involved with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Flat Tops Chapter, been a member of the Fairfield Trust Committee and interviewed Meeker students for that scholarship opportunity as well as the RBC Woolgrowers Scholarship. Every year I assist with the RBC Fair Lamb BBQ, the RBC Pioneers Association Banquet, and the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials.
I am a member of the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation Board which raises funds to be used by the hospital to improve our local healthcare capabilities, providing funds to PMC for new and improved equipment and technology as needed, and to the Walbridge Wing and our precious Residents that live there.
I have been in banking for about 32 years now, and currently work at Yampa Valley Bank in Craig, Colorado as an Ag/Commercial Lender.
As a PMC Board Member, a primary goal of mine is to ensure the hospital maintains and improves it’s long term financial stability. This facility is a jewel, and Meeker is very fortunate to have such excellent providers and caring professional people that work here and take care of us all.
In these times, as other hospitals are struggling to survive, PMC is flourishing as evidenced by our awards earned, which make it a destination facility for existing and new patients to come to Meeker and experience PMC’s excellence in care. I am proud to be a part of this amazing institution and look forward to supporting its’ continued success and innovation as a Board Member should I be elected.
In just the past few years, PMC has seen more services and providers come to Meeker than ever before, enriching the health care for us locals as well as drawing patients from outside the community that spend their dollars in Meeker while in town visiting PMC. The Board, during my tenure, established our Meeker Drugs at PMC Pharmacy at the hospital, which provides prescriptions locally for us all. I would appreciate the opportunity to serve our community by supporting and helping guide this fine institution to continued success.
Lastly, I would like to thank the PMC employees who work every day to provide excellent health care options to us all. You are what makes this such a special place and your time and dedication are very much appreciated. Thank you for all you do!
Respectfully,
Kim Brown Tedford
Meeker