Special to the HT
MEEKER | The following responses were presented by Eastern Rio Blanco Health Services District (Pioneers Medical Center) Board Member Kim Tedford at the last board meeting. The responses answer several of the questions presented to the board by Wendy Gutierrez and published in the March 6 edition.
• A comment was made that one member of the Board of Directors does not live in Meeker/the White River Valley, and has served on the Board for 12 years:
1. It is stated in the Colorado State Constitution, to run for the Hospital Board you must be eligible to vote in Rio Blanco County (per ERBHSD boundaries), must own property in Rio Blanco County, or be married to someone who owns property in the county. Mark Schryver owns property in Rio Blanco County.
2. Schryver’s service on the PMC Board, is just shy of 2 terms, elected in 2020 and his second term will end in 2027, at which time he will be term limited out. He has had decades of experience in the medical field and provides a wealth of information to the PMC Board based upon his experience.
• A question was raised regarding Pioneers Healthcare Foundation – when was the last meeting held, members of the Foundation, and what has it accomplished to assist with helping the hospital. (This foundation was established to help with expenses to upgrade technology at PMC, expand healthcare services offered to members of our community, assist local individuals pursuing a career in the medical field, and deliver programs that benefit low income individuals, and provide funding for our local Meals on Wheels program.)
1. The last meeting of PHF was held on January 28, 2025. These meetings are held as needed and quarterly. Cindy Rholl is the Director of the Healthcare Foundation. Members of the Foundation Board are: Dr. Grant, Mike Hoke, Todd Shults, Wade Bradfield and Kim Tedford.
2. In 2024, PHF put on a “Putt for a Purpose” 4 person golf scramble at the Meeker Golf Course, the Gobble Wobble at Thanksgiving, and during the Meeker Parade of Lights celebration, PHF had a booth on Main Street that provided winter beverages, and delectable desserts and treats as fund raisers.
3. PHF awarded $11,500 in scholarships last year and provided $20,000 to the Meals on Wheels program in our community. Additionally over time they have secured grant funding to help with the purchase of a Hitachi Echelon Oval wide boar MRI machine, a 3D Mammography machine, a Chem analyzer machine used in our lab, an EKG treadmill used by our Cardiopulmonary team, and the vehicle used by the Walbridge Wing which helps long term care residents participate in day trips around the area, which enriches their lives – I had one resident tell me personally about a day trip some of the residents were able to take to Grand Junction, and how very much she enjoyed it. PHF is able to provide assistance to our uninsured community members for necessary cancer screenings including mammograms for those qualified.
• Questions were raised regarding the marketing and grant writer: Rachel Gates, our grant writer and marketing manager, was hired in January 2020 and recently relocated to Alabama. She has occasionally worked remotely while the Gates family lived in Meeker. She remains connected to this community; She and her husband raised their family here for many years. Rachel continues to contribute to the hospital in her current role, and since 2020, she has successfully secured $2,671,021 in grants for both the hospital and the PHF.
• There was a comment made during the meeting that one of the attendees believed the nurses at PMC are not qualified. All nurses licenses are verified. These licenses are checked annually as well as when hired. Additionally, HR does a random check to be sure no issues have appeared. All staff take annual competencies and participate in health fairs.
• At the meeting it was announced that there is not an HR person on site at PMC, and they are only there either one day a week or a few times a month, and that they have an $11,000 income monthly.
1. The current HR Director began working at PMC 9/22 as a contract employee and was hired by PMC 7/23. She lives in Meeker and works 5 days a week at PMC. If she takes vacation days or will be out for a few days, she works from home/remotely as needed and is accessible. Her wages are within fair market range for her years’ experience and education.
• PMC currently has 8 remote workers/work-from-home employees. This is a business decision and is not unusual for their job descriptions and the company’s needs.
• Transparency – PMC website is ‘terrible’ per the opinion of an individual relayed the night of the meeting. Actually, PMC has other facilities calling often regarding our website and asking who manages it (Rachel Gates & Webolutions) because of it’s accessibility. PMC has consumers comment often regarding the posted info and appreciation for news of what is happening within the facility.
1. On the 4th Tuesday of each month, which is the date of the monthly board meeting, there is opportunity for the public to attend, and the most recent signed board minutes are posted on the website to review the hospital’s activity.
2. During the meeting there was a question regarding financial information at PMC, initially, how many days cash on hand. As of Feb. 14, 2025, there were 152 days cash on hand. The covenants require 90 days cash on hand, which is met per the above. This means PMC could stay open for 152 days – this is a measurement of the days a business can continue to pay its operating expenses with the cash on hand. In researching local similarly sized hospital websites, I was unable to find any financial information on the Memorial Hospital website (Craig) or the Rangely District Hospital website (Rangely), or Ashley Regional Medical Center website (Vernal, UT).
• Ovation Contract – PMC has been in collaboration with QHR/Ovation since 1998. The current contract expires in 2027. For 45 years, Ovation Healthcare has supported nonprofit, independent healthcare through a portfolio of shared services – designed to provide scale and efficiency to hospital business operations. This company provides legal, financial, and supply purchasing services and discounts to the hospital. Last year, the Ovations contract (HPG) saved PMC 16%, or roughly $1.3 million in supplies needed to run PMC. Additionally, they continually monitor the political environment and provide PMC with a heads up regarding any legislation that will affect the hospital they see coming down the pike.
1. Ovation does not have the ability to sell any facility it has a contract with. A sale of the facility is a Board decision. Ovation can only sell what it owns, and it does not own PMC. The management fee that they charge is within market value.
2. PMC’s CEO worked for Ovation however the Board hires and can fire this individual.
• When did the clinic begin demanding payment at time of service? Like any business (grocery store, gas station, restaurant) the hospital needs to be paid when providing services. The prompt pay discount policy was adopted to assist patients with a discount if they are qualified for it at the time of service. It was adopted in 2021.
• PMC Health Fair – there was a question regarding what had happened to the Health Fair and was one even held last year.
1. There were advertisements for the PMC Health Fair held June 3-7 2024 at PMC on Facebook as well as it was advertised in the Herald Times on May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30th. In 2021 385 tests were run, in 2022 476 tests were run, in 2023 599 tests were run, and in 2024 595 tests were run. Granted this was a bit different than previous years, where it used to be held once with massive lines and wait times to use these benefits. Last year, dates were posted with suggestions of when you could be seen, with the first initial of your last name used for different days. In talking with Christy Atwood, the Clinic Manager last year, she felt that this schedule was more convenient for our citizens as well as easier for the hospital staff to manage, rather than one hectic day of folks taking advantage of the services offered.
• PMC 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment – This report was mentioned during the meeting, and some questions were asked about how this was prepared and distributed. This survey was prepared by PMC with assistance from Kylie Lattimore and Ovation. Notification of the survey was published in the Herald Times on Aug. 4, 11, and 18, 2022. Quoted from the ad, “In order to best serve our community’s health care needs, your participation, feedback, and input would be greatly appreciated!” There was a QR code you could scan in the ad, and the survey was live from Friday, Aug. 5 to Friday, Aug. 26. This info requesting completion of the survey was also posted on Facebook during this time frame.
1. The #1 issue of importance noted was Mental Health. Since the Community Needs Assessment, PMC has hired 4 Licensed Clinical Social Workers – of these one left Meeker due to lack of support from the community, and one works remote. Additionally 1 Licensed Professional Counselor was hired and has worked in the clinic since 2021, specializing in pediatric and adult mental health, and participates in tele mental health appointments. Mind Springs has been in Meeker for a long period of time, and PMC has access to mental health needs through them as well.
• PMC CEO Community Involvement – Liz Sellers has participated in: PMC Health Fair, Meeker Palooza, Hope West (board member), Rodeos – we pay for our banners at the arena, annually renew w/Range Call, Pioneers Putt for a Purpose golf tournament, Watts Ranch Market Community BBQ and ribbon cutting, Mock employment interviews at Meeker High School, Leadership Development at Meeker High School, Empty Bowls at the high school, High school career opportunities, Supported the RBC Fair, Meeker Craft and Gift Show, Parade of Lights, PH Foundation Cocoa and beverages at the holiday celebration downtown, Farmers Market, Sheep Dog Trials, Work Based learning program.
Under the current CEO’s tenure, PMC has:
1. Created a pharmacy on site to provide for your local and surrounding community, filling 61,000 prescriptions since inception and 36,158 last year. There is also a program in place to provide delivery for patients as needed in the community which is expected to come online in June.
2. Expanded the Meeker Clinic to better serve our local community
3. Created a sleep center which recently received accreditation from American Academy of Sleep Medicine. This can assist patients who experience Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Parasomnias, and restless leg syndrome to name a few.
4. Expanded surgery – Established relationships with local hospitals and providers which bring surgeries and treatments for general surgeries, urology, spine (including the TOPS procedure which is a lumbar spinal fusion)- PMC is the only provider in the region to offer this service), hand and feet, shoulders, and cardiology. Growing the Orthopedic practice to be nationally recognized.
5. Established clinics in Craig and Grand Junction, CO to support ortho care for patients in in these locales.
6. PMC has received numerous awards including Heathgrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award (2024 – “This distinction, along with numerous other accolades from HealthGrades, reflects Pioneer Medical Center’s outstanding clinical performance and distinguishes it as one of the nation’s leading hospitals.”), America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement Award (2025), Outstanding Patient Experience Award (2024 and 2022)
• PMC Employee questions raised.
1. Why does the hospital appear to be understaffed? Per Colorado HB 22-1401, PMC is staffed as required by the Colorado Public Health and Environment guidelines. A quarterly report is submitted to ensure the staffing plan is followed. This plan was most recently approved by the Board of Directors in September 2024.
2. Monitoring employee social media – what employees do on their own time is their business. The Code of Conduct expects employees to behave in a manner that represents the facility and conduct themselves as members of our team. If you post something on social media, expect that others will see it (that is the idea after all, correct?). If you feel you are being monitored, I believe there is a way to block that person from seeing your posts – problem solved.
3. Why are people who live locally pushed out? Since we all know quite a few of the people who work at PMC, this may seem like a rather large number of folks who either choose not to work at PMC any longer or some that are let go for cause. A few years ago, the MS/ER area was so toxic, a tri-leadership team worked together to support staff, hold individuals accountable, and change that culture. This decision was supported by leadership, board, and providers. This effort was successful.
4. It was reported at the meeting that some folks present that had worked at PMC were fired without rehire options. In fact, PMC is unaware of any nurses currently working in Rifle that were with PMC that are not eligible for rehire. There is one nurse who resigned from PMC whose husband still works there. This person is a very good nurse, and PMC would welcome the opportunity to consider rehiring her.
5. Heaping more jobs and responsibilities on people – All directors are following their job descriptions. As I am sure we all can imagine, health care comes with a lot of stress day to day. We all have good and bad days. PMC works to send leaders out early or give an extra day off if needed to assist with this issue. If someone asks for additional support, it is provided. This is tempered however with the employee needing to step up and complete their duties as needed – not slack off and let someone else take it over, then complain about being too busy. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their own work.
6. Travelers – Departments do not like the expense of travelers and PMC works hard to hire permanent staff. There has been a recent incident where in one department the leader of that area had 2 permanent staff hired, and did not want to mentor or support them, effectively running them off due to lack of support. This department is now running very well with changes made to correct this situation. The majority of managers that encounter good travelers encourage them to become permanent staff, and we have had several hires that have become new PMC employees.
7. PMC Employees using cell phones – PMC acknowledges this is an ongoing issue with employees. It is not appropriate during patient care. This is continually monitored. There is a policy in place that this is not allowed, however it is difficult to continually monitor. If you see this occurring as a patient, please bring it to a leader’s attention so it can be addressed. I personally find this annoying most places a person goes these days.
8. PMC Travelers not helping Walbridge Wing residents – This is one of the many reasons PMC has terminated the contract with Staffing First as a source of travelers. Multiple emails had been sent to the leadership of the Walbridge Wing but no action was taken to hold these individuals accountable for their lack of assistance in helping our most precious and fragile people. The leadership at the time this was discovered chose who and when someone would be addressed, and that was not up to the PMC required level of care. There are many reasons for some of the recent terminations which are confidential information, however this one alone infuriates me that our most vulnerable people were put at risk. Thank you for your time and attention.
