FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MHSC's MEDICAL LIBRARIAN RECOGNIZED

(ROCK SPRINGS) The Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is pleased to announce that Medical Librarian and Web Coordinator, Kathy Tacke was recently recognized by her peers from the Mid Continental Region of the Medical Library Association for the development of the hospital's new and improved website and her work on behalf of medical libraries.

The Mid Continental Chapter of the Medical Library Association presented Mrs. Tacke with the 2004-2005 MCMLA Member Recognition for the coordinated development of the hospital website and the intranet. The website contains information regarding the hospital's history, mission, services, and staff. Additionally, the website contains links to reputable medical information sites as well as sites of local and community interest.

The Mid Continental Chapter of the Medical Library Association is composed of medical library professionals from Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Utah.

Also, at the Annual Wyoming Symposium for Health Information Professionals, Mrs. Tacke was awarded a Certification of Excellence for Outstanding Performance and Lasting Contribution to Health Science Librarianship in the state. During their two day training and networking opportunity in July, Mrs. Tacke was chosen as a panelist to represent hospital libraries. The panel explored issues and concerns related to the survival of hospital libraries and how Medical Librarians play an intricate part in providing quality patient care. Participation on the panel required prior preparation and knowledge of the issues, the ability to respond to questions from the audience and other panel members.

The symposium was held in Laramie, July 22 and 23, 2004.

For more information regarding the Medical Library's services contact Mrs. Tacke at the hospital. The hospital's web address is www.minershospital.com

HOSPITAL EVALUATES EMERGENCY SERVICE CONTRACTS

(ROCK SPRINGS) Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is discussing contractual arrangements for Emergency Department physician services. The hospital enters into contracts with providers on an annual basis in accordance with state law.

The current service providers, High Desert Emergency Physicians, have informed the MHSC Board of Trustees that they do not wish to negotiate regarding the contract and have said that their current contract will be allowed to expire on June 30, 2004. A number of attempts have been made to establish a dialogue with the physicians. Their attorney informed the Board of Trustees on February 9 th and, again, on the 24 th that his clients are uninterested in discussing the issues. But, the hospital was informed on February 3 rd that the company would accept a proposed agreement. Due to the extreme need for these vital services, contract negotiations are underway with several providers for the physician services offered in the Emergency Department to include the present company should they wish to be reconsidered.

Under the current agreement, the physicians in the Emergency Department are paid by the hospital 70 cents of every dollar billed regardless of what the hospital collects which averages about 56%. All billing services are done by the hospital. The Board of Trustees is, thereby, forced to take the entire brunt of the financial loss in addition to the overhead expenses for billing and collections. The company received, despite the losses incurred to the hospital in Fiscal Year 2003, $3.2 million in compensation. The Board of Trustees and the Administration raised this issue with the Emergency Department physicians over a year ago when an agreement was informally approved and later withdrawn by the company. The hospital would like any future company to bill and collect for their services provided.

The Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County receives only $300,000 from the Sweetwater County Commissioners to pay for the $3.3 million dollar costs of involuntary detentions, indigent care and bad debts. The amount is .005% of the hospital's $56 million budget. The amount of uncompensated care is rising and must be absorbed by the hospital.

The Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has been satisfied with the physicians through the ongoing contract and wishes them well and thanks them for their service to the community. However, it is the fiduciary responsibility of the Board of Trustees and the MHSC Administration to provide the most affordable care possible for the patients who pay their fair share of health care. As a part of the ongoing review of the hospital, the costs for similar care at regional hospitals is gathered and compared. As a result of this review, it was found that the company was receiving the largest monetary compensation of any providers in the region. The Board of Trustees felt that it was their responsibility to seek terms more in keeping with regional averages.

The hospital feels that there needs to be a provision in the contract with regard to non-competition. Over recent years, the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to recruit physicians. This recruitment has included loans, guaranteed income and equipment purchases. However, some of the recruited physicians have sought to practice in private for profit settings once they are established in the community. These facilities are often Monday through Friday operations without care for patients after hours or on weekends and are not required to see or treat all patients. No patient, regardless of ability to pay, will be turned away from the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and the hospital is open 24 hours per day/7 days per week. It is the opinion of the hospital board that it is not appropriate to finance the competition. The non-competition only applies within the hospital's service area for the provision of similar services during the term of the agreement.

The Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has a history of contracting for Emergency Room physicians and it was that system that allowed the hospital to have the High Desert Emergency Physicians. The hospital board and administration are confident that the care offered by other providers under consideration will continue the tradition of providing quality physician care for the residents of Sweetwater County. The community should see no change in services provided.