Prague Community Hospital had an advisory board meeting Monday June 1. Advisory board members for the hospital include: Tina Johnson, Harvey Robinson, David Greer, Nathan Wiggins, Dr. Darryl Jackson, and Aaron Head PA. Danny Winchester is also on the Advisory Board but was not able to attend. The role of the Advisory Board is to act as a liaison between the Governing Board of the hospital, Prague Healthcare Alliance and the community, and to consult and advise in matters affecting the hospital’s policies and programs as they relate to the citizens of the community, investigate and determine the needs and interests of the community for the healthcare facilities and programs to meet these needs. David Greer was elected as Chairman for the Advisory Board and Nathan Wiggins was elected as Vice-Chairman. Also attending the meeting were Joan Walters, RN, MSN - CEO of Prague Community Hospital; Larry Arthur, CEO of HMC/CAH and Chairman of the Governing Board; Val Schott , Director of Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health.; John Wood, Principal with HMC/CAH; Danny Cooper, Chief Construction Officer for HMC/CAH; Al Arrowood, Financial Officer with HMC/CAH and Krista Grooms, HIM Director at Prague Hospital.
The advisory board members expressed their satisfaction with the current stability of the medical staff with Dr. Jackson and Bruce Carlton, PA-C, and local leadership and feel confident the continuity will be here for several years to come.
HMC/CAH Consolidated entered an agreement with Prague Healthcare Alliance to assume operations effective December 1st, 2008. Larry Arthur shared with the group that HMC/CAH currently owns seven Critical Access Hospitals throughout the country with a combined gross annual revenue of $60 million dollars and approximately 600 total employees. They just closed a purchase on Drumright Hospital in April and are in the process of purchasing Seiling Community Hospital in Seiling, Oklahoma. HMC has a genuine interest only in small, rural hospitals.
Danny Cooper presented preliminary floor plans for the new hospital. The new facility will have 29,000 square feet, eleven patient rooms and will be designed in a more efficient manner to better utilize staff and improve patient flow. It will be a single story building and designed so that additional rooms can be added. The new clinic will be located directly adjacent to the hospital with a connecting walkway. The cost of the facility will be $10-$12 million. Val Schott stated that studies have shown that a new replacement hospital will have an economic impact on the community of about $4 million a year. A start date has not been set but the financing is coming together. Larry Arthur stated that the financing has not been an easy task over the last 6 months due to the economic crisis.
Joan Walters stated that they plan to have additional services in the new facility such as general surgery and additional specialty services. There are also plans to restart the “Pink Ladies” volunteer auxiliary group when the new facility opens. Joan also informed the board of all the community events that the hospital participates in.
There were recommendations at the previous meeting to market the insurance plans that the hospital participates in, but the hospital also offers a write-off after “in-network” deductibles are met, once the insurance pays, for those who use an out-of- network carrier
Dr. Jackson stated that the clinic (which he and his partner, Physician Assistant Bruce Carlton operate) is still seeing about 100 new patients a month and he has had some discussions with some additional specialists regarding their interest in providing monthly visits.
For more information or to give us your suggestions you may contact Joan Walters at 405-567-4922 or email to jwalters@praguehospital.com . The hospital also has a website if you would like to check it out for other information and updates at www.praguehospital.com   or http://www.hmccah.com

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