Two Valencia County commissioners have begun talking with top executives from Presbyterian and the University of New Mexico Hospital to find out what the two entities can do to help develop a hospital in the county.

The talks were announced by the two commissioners – Georgia Otero-Kirkham and Pedro Rael — during last night’s commission meeting, with the two saying they had met informally last week with Dr. Paul Roth of UNM Hospital and Jim Hinton of Presbyterian.

“They wanted to know what out impression was of what the mill levy could be used for and what they can do to help us,” Otero-Kirkham said.

Right now Valencia County is collecting a hospital mill levy tax from taxpayers toward the operation and maintenance of a hospital that hasn’t been built. The mill levy was approved by 76 percent of Valencia County voters in 2006.

The two hospital executives want a letter from the county outlining the uses for the mill levy. Otero-Kirkham said that should be easy because the county has a court order saying what it can be used for.

During the private meeting, Otero-Kirkham and Rael also spoke about their goals for healthcare in Valencia County.

“We talked about what we would like to see – a hospital in Valencia County, extended medical services in Valencia County,” she said.

Otero-Kirkham and Rael hoped the talks could continue with two different commissioners meeting with those hospital officials. Commissioner David Medina said he would like to participate in the next meeting.

“I think it was a good meeting. They were very anxious to know where we were, what we’re looking for, what we needed,” Otero-Kirkham said.

Rael said Presbyterian and UNM Hospital expressed an interest in teaming up together to help Valencia County “enhance medical care,” from a small hospital to urgent care centers. They also discussed ambulance service.

“As I understand, they don’t team up a whole lot, but they’re willing to come down here and help us out,” he said.

Once the county explains by letter the uses of the mill levy, Rael said the two hospitals are likely to present a general proposal indicating what they can provide for the county.

According to Otero-Kirkham, UNM said it can staff a hospital, having graduated more than enough doctors last year. UNM also appears willing to help manage it.

The hospital project, which is under a management contract with Valencia Health Commons, a local nonprofit, has been on hold pending the decision on a lawsuit appeal filed with the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

That lawsuit challenges the legality of the county’s contract with Valencia Health Commons, which in addition to project management, also gives the nonprofit exclusive jurisdiction over the mill levy money, estimated to be more than $20 million during the eight years it’s collected.

“We haven’t heard anything from Valencia Health Commons in – I don’t know – it’s been months, and before that we hadn’t heard from them in at least a year. They’re not doing anything,” Rael said.

Since September, the commission has been increasingly skeptical of Valencia Health Commons, at one point considering outright canceling its contract with the health commons, risking a breach of contract lawsuit. Health commons officials have said all progress on constructing a hospital has been held up by the lawsuit appeal.

Commissioner Ron Gentry questioned the secrecy of holding private meetings with executives on such an important public matter.

“I would suggest we send both of those parties a letter and ask them to attend a public workshop here in this commission room to listen to the commissioners and answer questions, and have them ask us questions all at once, so we’re all on the same page,” he said.

He wants all the issues laid out at one time to avoid hearsay. He also wants to involve Valencia Health Commons, since they have the contract. He said any talks need to be “visible and open.”

The commission directed staff to invite Presbyterian and UNM Hospital to a public workshop. A date hasn’t been scheduled.

“Somewhere along the line we’ve got to get the ball rolling,” said Commission Chairman Don Holliday, who appeared to be in favor of both private and public discussions.

This page was published on February 11, 2010 at 9:21am and is filed under Hospital.