At Monday’s Eureka Springs Hospital Commission meeting, commissioner John House noticed the May payment from Allegiance did not arrive until June 6, and this is while the commission is working on plans to update and expand operations that will increase the monthly lease. “It would make me feel more comfortable going forward if they paid their bills on time,” he said.
CEO Vicki Andert said it is common for medical facilities to get late payments or reimbursements, even from Medicare. House said he simply wanted to know the level of commitment from Allegiance because people are excited about the possibility of an updated facility. Andert responded that Allegiance CEO Rock Bordelon wants this project to go through.
Andert will also oversee operations at the Allegiance facility in Dardanelle but will be based in Eureka Springs. She introduced Lynne Olbertz who assumed Andert’s previous duties as Chief of Nursing Operations.
Commissioner Barbara Dicks said there is now a place to put archival commission files, as mayoral assistant Kim Stryker produced a file cabinet full of new folders, and firefighters installed it in a possibly permanent place in the education room at ESFD Station #3.
Dicks said there were more related documents going back to when the commission ran ESH, which might stay at city hall.
Dicks also reported she was quoted a price for land adjacent to the helipad section of ESH property, but the asking price was way too high, although the property could be eventually used for staff parking as they develop the footprint of the renovated hospital.
Next meeting will be Monday, July 16, at 12:30 p.m., at the ECHO Clinic.