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Show tw"AUTCT3-DI6IT84U OF U CO0 1 LIBRARIES. SERIALS OF.DER-ESSE-- 1 p E PM 'fif K SALT LAkE CiT r UT 841 12 295 S 1500 H l. L.l H. ii l 1 1 HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH Vol I ii ii it SINCE 1915 December 29, 1999 50 cents 84 No 12 i The spectacular Moki Dugway leading off Cedar Mesa creates an unexpected twist to driving on Highway 261. Larry Weils photo Health Care Board extends hospital privileges to Dr. MacArthur After an the the attorneys representing and determine what In addition, at executive session which extended past night, the San Juan Health mid- Care Services Board extended temporary hospital privileges to Dr. Steven MacArthur at its December 21 board meeting. MacArthur, an obstetrician gynecologist, has opened a private practice in Blanding. The executive session was called because of a threatened While proceedings of executive session are confidential, the granting of privileges to MacArthur appears to have been part of the discussion. Michele Lyman, a physicians assistant, operates a private Donna Singer and two others in an $18 million lawsuit against San Juan County and the health care district In other business at the December 22 board meeting, Manual Morgan and Nettie Prack gave the board an update of the status of the Montezuma Creek clinic. Utah Navajo Health Systems, practice in Blanding. She has been admitting patients into Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab under the license of Dr. Penn. The granting of privilawsuit against the district leges to MacArthur means that a newly created orand others by Dr. Nathaniel Lymans patients can be admitmanwill assume ganization, Penn, Michele Lyman and ted into the San Juan Hospital. agement of the clinic on JanuDr. Penn left Monticello for ary 1. Helen Valdez. Susan Schildmeyer, attorney for Moab this summer after pracMorgan and Prack said that remedicine for two and the Health Care District has Valdez, Penn, Lyman years. ticing quested that the board and Penns tenure in San Juan been cooperative in the transothers meet in executive ses- County was marked by a fer of the facility. The Health sion in an apparent attempt stormy relationship with health Care District has operated the to work out a compromise care officials. facility for several years. lawDetails of the threatened short of actual filing suit. There are several issues reIn addition to the Health suit have yet to be developed. lated to the transfer which are All that has happened legally of concern to both parties. Care Board and District offiis that Schildmeyer has given Morgan made an official apalso threatened the suit cials, may include the San Juan formal notice of intent to file peal to the board to transfer County Commissioners, suit. The notice states that the clinic pharmacy and its inCounty Attorney Craig Halls, Schildmeyer may seek class ventory and supplies to Utah Dr. Jim Redd, and those who action status in the action. Navajo Health Systems on were health care officials in Schildmeyer is familar with January 1. recent times, including Rick the health care system in San The Health District will conJuan County. She is one of the duct an inventory of the phar Bailey and Reid Wood. non-prof- it inmacy ventory, if any, will be given to it the fledgling organization. Morgan pointed out that a pharmacy with inventory was non-prof- in place when San Juan Health Care Services assumed management of the clinic from Indian Health Services several years ago. He asked that that balance once again be transferred with the facility. Pharmacists estimate that inventories and supplies could be val- ued between $25,000 and $50,000. employees Montezuma Creek Clinic are apparently concerned over the loss of accrued benefits when their employment transfers from the district to Utah Navajo Health Systems. Morgan passed on a request that benefits be transferred to the new management team. Health District financial manager Karla Eberling said that official policy of the district is that the benefits, in- cluding accrued sick pay, do not transfer to new employers. Officials will work on the wdll dbHr (hr dk-- fhdhiksv) on) OQasnlko dinil IkmiHTO 0 Ottm? d (hq?p fhdhfesv SO |