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Show I I T-- 1 1 rw Ilf i rf f M ! 1 Sun Advocate 6 Friday, December T7, 19B2 2 sides square off at hospital hearing By SCOTT LLOYD Staff Writer Meeting for the first time on the battlefront, public Castleview Hospital officials and proponents of a reactivated Carbon Hospital exchanged salvos over the quality of local health care Thursday night at the Price Civic Auditorium. The crowd of about 150 spectators appeared evenly divided between the two camps. But the turnout was scant compared to an unofficial hearing held last October at which more than 700 persons cheered officials of the Hospital Reactivation Corp., the group trying to get the old facility reopened. Thursdays Castleview Hospital ad ministrator, responds to a question concerning the hospital's expansion proposal Don Larsen, at a hearing Thursday at which alternative health care facility plans were presented. Photos by Rick Egan hearing 26-be- I You CRhsTmas are invited to attend the 1 Christmas Cantata I "The Music of Christmas by Ira B. Wilson SUNDAY, DEC. 19, 11:00a.m. PRICE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2nd Eastand Main, Price Phone f 637-012- 7 Candlelight Christmas Eve Services, Dec. 24th at 7:30 p.m. was sponsored by the Utah Health Systems Agency, the body responsible for approving or denying additional hospital beds in a given area. The hearing two months ago was to have been sponsored by the agency for the purpose of considering the corporations facility. proposal for a But Castleview launched a preemptive strike by submitting its own plan for a expansion. The state agency responded by rescheduling the hearing for December, a move which angered many local residents. Robert Etzel, a corporation director, hinted that local citizens may have boycotted Wednesdays hearing to demonstrate their displeasure. Castleviews case was stated by Robert W. Young, vice president of John Short & Associates, a Salt Lake City consultant, who said the hospital wants to add 12 medical and surgical beds, four obstetric beds, four pediatric beds and d 25-b- Robert Etzel, Carbon Hospital Reactivation Corp. director, decries Castleview Hospital's "health care for profit" and chastizes the Utah Health Systems Agency at Thursday's public hearing. five psychiatric beds. He said Castleview proposes to add mental health and substance abuse treatment ser- make its nuclear vices, d medicine and services full time, and enhance its emergency, outpatient, physical therapy and "step-dow- n intensive care services. ultra-soun- He said the cost would be $5.6 million, compared to $6.3 for Doctors Memorial Medical Center, which would be the new name for the facility. Young said competition is fine when an area can support it, but in the case of the Carbon-Emercounty area, neither would have sufficient volume to support y needed future technological services. Catherine Peck, a director of the reactiviation corporation, repeated the pitch presented - last October. She said Doctors Memorial would include 17 medical-surgicbeds, four obstetrics beds and five pyschiatric beds to be operated by Four Corners Mental Health Agency. A Castleview supporter asked Mrs. Peck how the reactivation group could guarantee prices would decrease or that patients would stop going over the hill for medical care. "I can't guarantee Im going to get up in the morning, she replied, but added that competition tends toward stability and lower prices and that if Cry al For Carbon and Emery County Community WINTER QUARTER-19- 83. Class Schedule BANDAG Stocking Caps $395 Price the certificate-of-nee- ap- d plication submitted to the state provides that whoever manages it will fund it. The group has said that three and- two profit organizations shll manage it, but has not revealed their identity. Thelma L. Jones, another director, told the Sun Advocate the group wants to avoid a lawsuit against the potential manager of the facility. St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City has assisted the group in preparing the application. Rayne Carr, Price, asked Castleview Administrator Don Larsen why the hospital submitted its application just before the scheduled hearing. Larsen said it has been processing the documents since April. Price City Councilman Arnel Denison defended the action of the council and Carbon County Commission in selling the old hospital. Denison said officials were assured the hospital was operating in the black but were suddenly hit with a $34,000 bank overdraft. He said it would have cost $3.5 million to refurbish the facility to meet accreditation non-prof- it standards. United Mine Workers District President Mike Dalpiaz said, "I believe (Castleview) has a monopoly in Carbon County and we need competition in Carbon County. 22 DINOSAUR TIRE 200 E Mam, people have a choice, they will exercise it. In answer to a question about staffing, she said the group already has applications from 22 licensed practial nurses and 14 registered nurses. Mrs. Peck sidestepped a question about funding of the reopened facility, saying that 637 2480 5 NEW YEARS EVE call the U.S.U. Extension Office, Price In Emery County, call the U.S.U. Ext. Office at To register, 637-470- 0 . 381-238- 1 Register from Dec. 20 through Jan. 7 Classes begin the week of Jan. 1 0, 1 983 Ten DID YOU KNOW students by CEU Faculty and Staff Featuring the Joe Kotter Quartet Beginsat9p.m. Breakfast from needed for a class to be held THAT 11 p.m. to a.m. 1 College of Eostern Utah in SAC Ballroom CREDITearnedthroughSUCCE is transferable to any accredited university ? ADULTSmaytake courses without a high school diploma CLASSES aken throuqh SUCCE are V A approved for "Gl" benefits payments MOST u S U courses areavaiiabiemS E Utanbyrequestotatleast 10 students EARlY reques's tor courses help us help you SUCCE is your direct contact with Utah State University lor all courses, information, or other services $24couple in advance $29couple at the door Special intermission entertainment by Rick Mavin (renowned banio player) Southeastern Utah Center for Continuing TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Veltri's Drug, Lee's Music, CEU Business Ottice, Huntington City Library, Castle Dale Library Education "SUCCESS" begins with S.U.C.C.E. d w,V! DANCE sponsored ; A J |