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Show It was unfortunate for Uintah County that a large number of people supporting sup-porting the need for a nursing home did not attend the public hearing Thursday of last week. Only one non-associated person attended the Vernal hearing. The hearing was conducted by the Utah Health Systems Agency. Those attending the hearing representing state health agencies seemed very unsympathetic to those who explained the local needs and desires of the area. In fact, ever since 1977 when the local nursing home was closed, because it could not meet state and federal regulations, it has been one hassle after another to get action going for a new nursing home in Vernal. After private enterprise failed with -several attempts to put a nursing home package together, Uintah County stepped in and agreed to carry the ball. At first the old hospital building was ' to be remodeled into a nursing home. This plan was ditched mainly because of the future needs of the hospital. A new site was finally located and the property purchased and an architectural ar-chitectural firm was hired to draw up the plans for the new structure. Upon examining the plans for a 60-bed 60-bed nursing home in Vernal the Health Systems people immediately said it was too large and too costly. Uintah County Commissioners were told that a Certificate of Need would never be given for such plans. The state suggested cutting the facility down to 40 beds, but the commissioners said no.. Finally a compromise was made for a 50-bed facility. Thursday night it was estimated by state people that the price of the Vernal 50-bed facility was $32,000 a bed, over twice the cost of any other facility approved in the state. Then it was admitted that it had been four years since any nursing facility had been approved by the state agency. Taking the inflation factor into consideration the Vernal facility at $1,595,000 was not too far off, a representative from the architectual firm pointed out at the hearing. The reason cited for not approving any nursing homes the past four years has been the excess of nursing home beds in the state. It was reported that at the present time there are from 300 to 600 empty nursing home beds and that no new homes are needed. Two homes in the state have recently closed because of the over-building of nursing homes. What the state people were saying it seems, was we want your business on the Wasatch Front. If a nursing home is built in Vernal it will further drain the nursing homes and increase the empty beds in other areas. Dr. Paul Stringham made the plea at the hearing that we need a nursing home in Vernal so the occupants can be close to their loved ones. He also said we need a home for those who are ill enough to need one but not ill enough to require a hospital. He stressed that we need the facility now. Roland Merkley pointed out that the county has the money to build the facility. From all we can gather, it is because of all the red tape, fancy committees and councils that have been appointed to oversee health facility growth in the state. When it comes to health facilities the free enterprise system is thrown out the window. The criteria is the best for the greatest number of people. As a result the larger populated areas have all the facilities and the rural people travel to the centers. But a nursing home is a little different dif-ferent than a medical center. There is great comfort in being close to home. The final string that state health systems people hold is that federal Medicare funds will not go to facilities which do not have the Certificate of Need and approval from all state agencies. We hope the nursing home problems can be worked out. Five years is too long to be without nursing facilities in an area as large as Uintah County. With the projected growth for the area, any delay will be money wasted to increased building costs and added costs to loved ones who must travel to distant homes. The final decision by the State Health Planning and Facilities Bureau will not . be made until Feb. 10, 1982. Let's make our needs known to our political leaders before something else is found to stall ' the process of having a nursing home facility. |