The Eureka Springs Hospital Commission’s recent decision to move forward with a proposed change in designation from a “critical access” hospital to a “rural emergency” facility hasn’t derailed plans for building renovations. Those plans just might be revamped a bit, chair Kent Turner said at the commission’s regular monthly meeting Monday, Oct. 16 at The Auditorium.
“In lieu of the decision that was made at our meeting … I have been in contact with the architect,” Turner said. “I haven’t given him the go-ahead yet, but I think probably once we get the application filed and everything underway, we’ll have them do a relook at the hospital plans themselves.”
If the application for change in designation is approved then the hospital will be eligible to apply for grant funding of up to $5 million as a rural emergency hospital, along with monthly payments from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“… We may not want to dramatically downsize the hospital, but just look at different ways of utilizing the space that will probably reduce the cost of the space, at least in the short term,” Turner said.
The commission has reached out to both the governor’s office and federal lawmakers for months for possible funding help on the renovation project.
“I’m getting an inkling that the governor’s office may be rolling over a little bit, but we don’t know that.” Turner said. “… Since we’ve gotten so much pressure from the state on making this change, I have no idea whether that’s had any impact on that or not.
“I do intend to call the governor’s representative again and let him know that that’s underway, and we think it’s a good move. … I’m not really discouraged at this point even if … we get nothing out of Washington D.C. right now. … As everyone knows, there are other pressing matters that they’re going to have and they’re not going to pay much attention to us for a while. So, we may have to wait a year or so to see this thing to fruition.
“… Hopefully, maybe, we can get something done with the state in the meantime.”
‘THE RIGHT DECISION’
The vote to apply for a designation change is a positive thing, commissioners said.
“I’m pleased with our decision to change the designation,” commissioner Sandy Martin said. “I think it is a wise and prudent decision for the hospital at this time.”
After evaluating all the information it was the right decision, Turner said.
“This has been going on for a long time. It really has,” he said. “I guess it’s been about 10 months ago when it started. I first talked to some of the legislators in Little Rock and at that point in time it didn’t sound nearly as attractive as it sounds now. A lot of things have changed and a lot of things have gotten better, I think.
“I think we will see advantages coming from this that we wouldn’t have as long as we would have continued to be a critical access hospital. Change is hard and change is unnerving, but I think we did a good job of evaluating all the pros and cons.”
Turner said it’s important for residents to understand how the changes will benefit the community.
“I just want the residents and patients and supporters of the hospital to understand that we really think this is a positive move and will be in the best interest of the hospital,” he said, adding that the decision to apply for the designation change was “strictly a decision of this commission,” and had the support of Mayor Butch Berry.
