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Show A8 Th Ttmat'lndspandent, Thursday, March 20, 1980 Hospital change should mean Grand better service for rate. At than We want the people to see us as committed to local health care needs, said Bill Morton, executive of Advanced Health Systems in an interview with The vice-preside- Tuesday, March 18. Morton was referring to a recent decision by the Grand County Commission to turn over management of Allen Memorial Hospital to AHS. Times-Independe- nt Morton added that AHS believes strongly in local involvement in health care. Under the recently-signeagreement, AHS will manage the hospital while the title will remain with Grand County. The Hospital Board will also be retained as a policy-makin- g body concerned with the direction health care is to take in Grand County in the future. AHS will have responsibility for all personnel matters, equipment and capital improvements, in addition to training for the hospital staff. April 1 has been slated as the probable date for the transition, d when hospital employees will transfer from the county to AHS. Mor- ton commented that rural areas have a tremendous need for a company that cares about the community. Morton commented that rural areas have a tremendous need for a company that cares about the community. He added that small independent hospitals are unable to meet the human resource need to be converted to quality medical care. He remarked that AHS hopes to provide health care in Grand County comparable to that available in larger cities, such as Grand Junction and Salt Lake City. Morton stated that support (medical staff members people working with doctors) in rural hospitals are sometimes unable to obtain continuing state of the art training, due to budgetary limitations. AHS plans to provide such training by either bringing in instructors or flying staff members to medical training centers. One of the first actions to be taken by the management company will be a complete examination of all services and departments at the hospital, including medical care, facilities, financial arrangements and the physical plant. The procedure is designed to determine where changes may be needed to upgrade the local health care system. At a meeting of the Moab Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Morton told Chamber members that one of the first actions taken inby AHS will be a vestment in improved equipment. Morton went on to' emphasize that Hospital Administrator Kay Hawks and the Allen Memorial staff have been doing an excellent job in providing health care with the resources available. He added that the Allen Memorial physical plant is in good condition, in contrast with some other small communities, where hospital facilities have deteriorated. When asked at the Chamber of Commerce meeting about possible increases in health care costs, Morton said that costs should increase percent under approximately the new management system. During The' Times interview, he stated that the average cost per patient day at Allen Memorial last year was approximately $200. He commented that this may increase to about $300 per patient day. This figure includes all services provided by the hospital, rather six-figu- re 30-3- 5 0. mid-Apri- ditional hospital staff. Tuesday, 27, Ridge-Slaught- er Black Flat area the ridden. A vehicle-wal-k session will be conducted March 25 for the South Bookcliffs area. will be Along with visual inspection, later (in April), we will be measuring the amount of last years plant growth, used this winter to maintain the wintering deer. Interested persons may call Garth Carter for more details, meeting places, etc. tt&T mr.i rTWTi finer 4 seas When n comes to Microwave Cooking, Sharp wrote the ' Book. Wed- nesday and Thursday of next week, members of the, AHS Personnel Dept, will be in Moab to assess Allen Memorials operation. Morton commented that a commitment to quality care at the hospital should create regionalized attractiveness, drawing in patients from the surrounding area. He added that the company will investigate the possibility of creating satellite clinics in areas not already served by medical facilities. Morton remarked that, out of 47 hospitals in Utah, only six are not currently handled by management firms. Under the agreement with Grand County, the contract can be cancelled by either party with six months ' every Sharp Carousel you Microwave Cookbook, our get a $14.95 value, absolutely free. Everything you want to know about microwave cooking is With Based on doctors. March (km 332J populaton, he said, Grand County should have five or six M.D.s rather than the present three. He commented that while Moabs present physicians provide good medical care, they are overworked by the heavy patient load. Morton said that one doctor has indicated a desire to locate in Moab in September of this year. He went on to state that three or four others will visit the area. He stated that AHS will provide assistance to any new doctors in the form of providing office space and equipment. Medial authorities believe that there should be about two doctors for each 1,000 population. Grand County is far above this ratio with three doctors and an estimated population of 10,000. When questioned about the operation of the Grand County Ambulance Association, which will also be under the management of AHS, Morton said that the association will remain a volunteer organization, although some form of compensation may be provided for crew members. He added that AHS has an emergency medical director, an M.D. in Salt Lake, who will be used in training crew members. He added that a meeting with association members was planned for Tuesday afternoon. Additional meetings are planned for the II JEL-- . simply and completely. The book contains hundreds of recipes, tips on explained cooking and handling and a host of ideas to help you extend the usefulness of your Carousel. R-97- 3 """ t t."" 3 3 "'I ir ( 00 Sharp Carousel with Browner The premiere model in Sharp's new, Carousel microwave ovens is this prized addition to anyone's kitchen, the large-capacit- model Everything you could hope for in a microwave oven and more. All major functions are computer h controlled by Sharp's exclusive system that combines advanced microprocessor technology with unrivalled ease of operation. And thanks to Sharp's Carousel system foods cook more evenly than ever before. Finally, to beguile the eye as well as the tummy, Sharp gives you an advanced motorized browner that adds the final touch to a perfectly prepared dish. . Auto-Touc- $5gq9S notice. Pray were down from Grand Junction, Colo, for VISITING PARENTS a weekend visit with Mrs Mr. Johnny Stocks was Prays mother: Mrs. Elhere recently from Range- - mer (Rosie) Ellis . U.S.G.S. Topographic Available at . The Times-Independe- Secretarial Service nt AMERICAN TfRMITi , PIST CONTROi Stola Caahat Utah wuma imi wtuutms OVEN FHA I automaticaily. Auto-Touc- all electronic touch sensor control panel. Vbriable Cooking with settings fa FULL POWER, ROAST. SIMMER. DEFROST and HOLD. Memory Function stores up to ten individual cooking instructions fa instant retrieval. Programmable Cooking permits programming of three separate cooking sequences, automatically. CONTROI INSPECTION TERMITE V CERTIFICATION NOTARY PUBLIC- turns oven on and off automatically. Electronic digital readout. Function lights. Audible tone accompanies each program entry. Large 1.53 cu. ft. capacity. Easy clean acrylic interior. Optional wall Kit for built-i- installations. Outside Dimensions 24V(W) x 15V(H) x 18(D) Auto-Star- t ISM MEMORY TYPEWRITER Conf identiaf A Professional Fast ik Accurate Mining Leases Contracts Resumes Prepared Dictation Letters (typing & composing) Proofs of Labor Billing Services Beports of All Types Bookkeeping Invoicing I Minutes of Meetings Thesis Papers Payroll Preparation & Reporting Organizational Assistance Temporary Office Personnel Telephone Message Service ALL WORK GUARANTEED n The Ura Anne (great No. 6 Grand Plaza, So. Hwy. 163 (Near Bowling Alley) Moab, Utah 84532 Ph. (801)259-6579 p.m. Monday thru Friday MICROWAVE CAROUSEL AUTO-TOUC- H WITH VARIABLE COOKING CONTROL Carousel System rotates food for even cooking, FREE 5 A fh. beds or fewer. Allen Memorial at the present time has 38 beds. The AHS program to increase utilization of the local hospital includes the recruitment of ad-- , len Memorial Hospital. am.-Noo- election it is clear that Mr. Hansen does not have the confidence of some of his own party. Under these circumstances it is more important than ever for democrats to provide a clear alternative. Mr. McConkie is presently a partner in the Legal Clinic of Parker, McKeown and McConkie, a law firm which concentrates on making legal services available to middle income persons at has assumed management of hospitals in Taos, N.M. and Webb City, Missouri. All of the hospitals managed by the company have 50 Mrs. Robert Ruggeri parents, Mr. and Mrs. sustained a broken leg last John Stocks and family. week while on a ski trip in SPEND WEEKEND Monticello and is recuperAlMr. and Mrs. Ronald at ating satisfactorily 4 Statewide every spring, officers , conservation affordable costs. He is BLM, USFS and interestto ed sportsmen get together counsel presently a drug to conduct spring range Odyssey House, rehibilitation center and rides and browse tranwas the former chief of sects. staff for Congressman Gunn McKay in WashingLocally, March 26 and ton, D.C. Mr. Me Conkie, 27, we will use horses to age 34, has been active in evaluate the deer winter politics and was one of ranges of deer herd unit five candidates who chal30-(La Sals). The Castle Congressman lenged area will be inValley is He 1978. Marriot in for range condimarried to the former Judi spected tion and possible winter Miller of Provo, Utah and March 26. On on losses children. they have three of $10,000 per month. Generally, Morton said, if pVofits rise above this level, rates are reduced. His statement was based on past experience with the other hospitals managed by AHS. In effect, he stated, profits will be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. At the present time, the com' pany manages a total of 25 hospitals. Since the agreement was signed with Grand County, AHS ly, Colo, for a visit with his BROKEN LEG Assistant Former United States Attorrev. Jim McConkie, today indicated his intention to announce his candidacy for the office of Utah Attorney General. A formal announcement from the McConkie campaign organization is expected l. in Mr. McConkie said, in light of the fact that there are members of Mr. Hansens own party who are challenging his re- - merely a daily room the present time, he said, the patientday cost in Salt Lake and Grand Junction averages He went on to state that, under the present system, the county subsidized insurance companies by charging lower rates than are customary in other areas. He commented that Grand County taxpayers were paying for about $60 per patient day. Morton said that AHS does intend to eventually make a profit from the operation of Allen Memorial. According to Medicare and Medicaid regulations, the company will be limited to a profit $325-$35- Spring range rides are slated Jim McConkie to seek AG post in Utah 259-642- Friendly 3 mm. nut .jb; Store" |