RGH board looking at buildings for expansion

PORTALES — Roosevelt General Hospital officials hope to be operating a primary care clinic in Clovis in the next six months, though they've not yet secured a building.

Chief Executive Officer Kaye Green said during Thursday's board of trustees meeting that a billboard announcing the move was put up early due to miscommunication, though it is true the hospital is pursing a Clovis location.

"It's accurate, it was just a little premature," Green said.

Clinic Administrator Tina Hill said RGH is looking at multiple buildings in Clovis, one of them being the former Eye Associates location on 21st Street.

Green said the opening of a Clovis location will depend on when a building has been secured, but the target is to be up and running in six months and the end goal is to have four primary care providers operating out of the Clovis location.

Also at Thursday's meeting:

• The board unanimously approved a 10-year, $618,938 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Green said the funds will be put toward a new parking lot, camera surveillance system and portable buildings.

• The board of trustees bylaws, which the board previously reviewed, were unanimously approved without any changes from what was discussed last meeting.

• As part of the consent agenda the board discussed a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2019. Projected revenue was $1,161,442, down from the original projected revenue of $1,327,623 for fiscal year 2018, due to increases in professional fees and purchased services, Green said.

Green said the hospital's current revenue projection for fiscal year 2018 of a $844,937 loss is due to uncompensated care.

• In her report to the board, Chief Nursing Officer Mercedes Lopez said RGH received a payment incentive check in the amount of $173,000 for the hospital's participation last year in a hospital improvement program to limit hospital acquired infections.

Lopez said it has been almost three years since a hospital acquired infection was contracted at RGH.

"Not many hospitals can write that," board member Scott Reeves said.

• The board unanimously approved the credentialing of Charlene Beck in the area of behavioral health.

• In her report Green said Haylee Spence, director of planning, marketing and public relations at RGH, will be leaving and the hospital has offered a position to Jeanette Orrantia as Spence's replacement.

• No action was taken following an approximately 20 minute executive session held to discuss attorney-client privileged information, long term and strategic planning and limited personnel matters, according to the agenda.