Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Vince DiFranco's focus on sharing physicians, resources between Tucumcari, Clovis hospitals.
Plains Regional Medical Center Administrator Vince DiFranco, who is now administrator for the Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, will focus his efforts on "tying two communities together."
DiFranco said Presbyterian Health Services has combined two administrations into one in order to streamline the process of unifying the two operations and pave the way for more sharing of physicians and other medical specialists between the two hospitals.
Trigg Administrator Don Weidemann was dismissed from his position as of Feb. 10 and spent his last week at the hospital paving the way for DiFranco to take over his duties, according to hospital officials.
Quay County Manager Richard Primrose said he does not believe the change in administration will impact Trigg's status of being owned by Quay County government and operated by PHS.
DiFranco said he is continuing the work he has started to recruit physicians and other medical professionals to Clovis and ensuring that these resources are shared between the Clovis and Tucumcari hospitals.
One idea he has brought to Tucumcari that originated at Plains Regional is a "serenity cart," he said. The serenity cart travels among hospital rooms offering aromatic "essential oils," music and "white noise" machines that help patients relax.
DiFranco said he wants to bring "more depth" to medical services in Tucumcari by expanding the number of medical practitioners available to both PHS hospitals.
The key, he said, is "finding the right fit" of medical specialty and lifestyle preference in potential candidates. Any medical professional who comes to eastern New Mexico would have to show a preference for small town and rural lifestyles, he said.
He is often seeking candidates with ties to the region in either West Texas or North Central New Mexico, he said.
DiFranco said in PHS's business model, pay is tied to productivity, and PHS offers "pay mixes" that would encourage serving several locations in the region. A medical professional who would be a good fit to the community would want to "focus on taking care of patients," he added.
"They would enjoy being rural and enjoy the respect they get in small communities," DiFranco said.
Some might give up private practices, because PHS would take care of headaches like record systems and equipment and allow more opportunities to connect medical practitioners with their peers, he added, saying that PHS has been expanding operations in New Mexico over the past several years.