Officials present hospital plan

By Steve Hansen

QCS correspondent

The Quay County Commission on Monday re-elected District III Commissioner Franklin McCasland to chair the commission through 2017.

The commission also heard a report from Dan. C. Trigg Memorial Hospital Administrator Don Weidemann and Craig Cosner, member of the hospital board, and from Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Pat Vanderpool.

Weidemann and Cosner discussed the hospital’s three-year strategic plan, which goes into effect this year.

The hospital plans to add services from a gastroenterologist, who specializes in digestive system issues, to replace Dr. Victor Davis, a surgeon who is retiring in March.

The hospital also plans to schedule regular visits from the Trigg medical staff to its Logan clinic and increase rehabilitation services to shorten hospital stays, Weidemann said.

He also said the hospital’s service ratings have improved significantly in the past year. Among Presbyterian facilities, he said, Trigg’s ranking has improved from the 24th percentile to the 71st.

The hospital continues its search for more physicians and medical staff.

Commissioner Sue Dowell asked about whether Quay County could receive dialysis and obstetrics/gynecology services.

Weidemann said dialysis cannot be provided from a mobile unit because of its highly specialized equipment.

There currently is not enough demand in Quay County for ob/gyn services to warrant regular staffing, he said.

Vanderpool reported that several developments reported statewide tend to hamper economic development efforts, especially those involving workforce.

Recent reports, he said, show New Mexico has lost jobs recently, that the state leads the nation in employee lawsuits against employers, that the state is the “worst-run state” in the union, and its schools rank 49th among the 50 states.

In addition, he said retail stores are on tough times and cited recent closures of Macy’s and Sears stores.

The Tucumcari EDC, however, continues to work with the East Central New Mexico “Stronger Economies Together” effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development efforts and with state officials to build on regional strengths.

Dowell mentioned a recent informal survey she conducted on Facebook that showed residents would like to see new grocery and variety stores in the area, as well as better training and workforce development opportunities.

In other business, commissioners:

n Approved a contract to rebuild the roof of the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s office for $122,000, using metal roofing materials.

n Authorized Fire District 1, Quay Fire, Forrest Fire and Bard-Endee Fire to seek grant funding through New Mexico’s EMS Funding Act for emergency medical equipment ranging in value from $1,500 to $7,000.

n Declared three pieces of firefighting equipment obsolete, including 21-year-old truck and 33- and 44-year old fire engines.