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Show Volume Seventy-Fiv- e Eureka, Utah 84(128 - March Number 28, 1980 111 Hospital board mulls price rates, costs At a recent Juab County Hospital board meeting, Helen Morgan, director of nursing, Many small hospitals are empty shells of false were (left to right) Micky Miller. Lilly Erickson, Martin Fennell and Helen McKenzie. Eurekans revive western heritage Editor's note: The following article Eureka is reprinted from the on University of Utah Chronicle. By John Patrick Longfellow Special to the Chronicle The West today is in a state of change and siege. Many Westerners are worried about the invasion of their land, space and water. They refer to the coming rape of the West and fear the inevitable loss of a life steeped in tradition and custom. Others hope that new industry and development will bring jobs and a higher standard of living. Only time will tell the full story. But we have already lost much tangible evidence of our hideouts, graves, homesteads. Valleys that contained homes and whole pioneer towns, have been flooded by dams. Landmarks have been left to wither and die, in the gulches remaining, after rivers have dried up, or been rerouted for irrigational or industrial use. Bulldozers have destroyed the last remnants of what was not so long ago the frontier. heritage-monument- s, Trails once traversed by legendary Western characters have been obliterated by concrete and asphalt. Before too long, the only vestige of the West's colorful past, may be legend and hearsay. Robert Red ford (from The Outlaw Trail) We live in the midst of historical weath. Utah and other Western states are full of living legends and landmarks that bespeak the past, of not so long ago. Unfortunately, too many of us take this fact for granted and think the history of this region will remain preserved and protected infinitely. What is more likely to happen is the fate Redford predicted in The Outlaw Trail. The historical landmarks and pioneer towns located throughout the West will inevitably diminish. It wont be long before all existing proof of the Wests past completely vanishes from this unforgiving earth, leaving only memories and hearsay as the link to our ancestry and heritage. There is a community in Utah destined for this fate. Located deep in the Oquirrh Mountains, 90 miles southa west of Salt Lake City, sits Eureka deteriorating town, unassuming, yet full of exciting and colorful history. What was once one of the mining capitals of Utah is now merely a sad memory, with decayed buildings, dilapidated mines, uncertain industry, and a handful of about 800 determined people who have chosen to remain in this economically deprived region. At the turn of the century, Eureka was a bustling mining town with a population of around 4,000 people. It was the first multi-resourarea located west of the Mississippi River. Mines were located throughtout the entire Tintic region, providing jobs and opportunity to many. It is unfortunate that this community, which represents the history and industrial backbone of this state so beautifully and naturally, is destined for doom. Those who have had the opportunity to visit Eureka with an appreciation for history and heritage can take pride in what it stands for. The next generation will most likely not be so fortunate to see living history in Eureka, as it will most likely be well on its way to becoming extinct. ce stated, security. Mrs. Morgan was questioning the level of care that many small hospitals are able to give because, she said they dont have the finances necessary to provide the staffing required to provide the kind of emergency treatment that is often needed. Claude Lomax, an insurance adjuster in Nephi, met with the hospital board to discuss what he feels are excessive charges made by the hospital. He pointed out that he believes the area needs a hospital and is concerned that the facility be kept open, but, in order to do that, the hospital must be competitive, he said. After an extensive study of 41 hospital pricing rates, Lomax said that only four charged more than $115 a day for room rates Juab, Payson and Millard each charged $115; 34 hospitals charged less than $115. Most of these, Lomax said, charged a $90 to $99 room rate. Lomax outlined other expenditures at the hospital as being a records charge of $45, an admission kit for $30, a daily pharmacy charge of $25, $115 for nursing, $20 daily medical charge plus an extra fee after the second day. is it the beginning of a new a adventure, change in the future of Eureka? An attempt is being made by the local townspeople, with the help of some concerned and interested outsiders, to revive this town as it once was, to restore buildings, mines, homes, monuments and landmarks. The residents of Eureka have already extinct. So begun some of the legwork with the help of the Utah State Historical Society, but much more is needed. A fund is being established to help work towards federal matching monies allocated for historical preservation and renovation. Town meetings are scheduled to discuss a master plan, as well as goals and objectives, to determine the future or fate of this community. City ordinances and zoning regulations are to My personal reason for becoming be created, as few are in existence at intrigued with Eureka is my grand- this time, making Eureka vulnerable to father, a miner who emigrated from Ireland at the turn of the century and managed a mine in this area. It was also there that he died and was buried. My grandmother, several aunts and uncles also lived in this community at its peak of prosperity. My mother was born in Eureka, moved to Oregon at the age of five, after her father died, not to return until 50 years later. the harsh environment, hungry developers and the quickly passing time. Enthusiasm is slowly being regenerated in this community, with talk of a special celebration called Depot Days, to capture the spirit of the past, for everyone to enjoy. A new sense of pride and respect is building as the rusty gears of this town are once again slowly rotating. What was once a tired and sleepy community destined for doom, is now a town which has a chance to revive itself and set a precedent for otter Western communities with a similar fate. As the opening statement quoted, before too long, the only vestige of the Wests colorful past may be legend and hearsay ... , hopefully this will not be the fate of Eureka. group of my family and friends visited Eureka recently, to learn more about its active past and to see some of the landmarks and monuments firsthand. We visited with the locals and heard story after story of this community's background. The townspeople literally opened up their doors for us, sharing a genuine hospitality rarely found. The visit culminated with a polluck dinner in the town hall, followed by Western dancing to a local country music ensemble. The town seemed to Of all the evil spirits abroad at this come alive with memories and enin the world, insincerity is the nonexistent hour been have which thusiasm, most for a long time. The structures still dangerous. stand, the people remain, the atmosphere is warm, yet mysterious, the There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on potential immense, but untapped. Such a challenge . . . what an Mencius. A self-examinatio- n. A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal, no reason for this is There quaint Wilde Western community to join other become towns and deteriorating ghost V No other hospital in the survey made a record charge. It was included in the room fee, as was nursing care. The highest admission kit was $8.50. Only me other hospital made a pharmacy charge, and that was a $5 cart charge for small items. A $5 per hour late charge was not charged if the problem was caused by the doctor, said Lomax. With their permission, Lomax also compared two of his insurance patrons bills. One person was hospitalized in Nephi with an infection. The other person was hospitalized elsewhere with back surgery. The Juab Hospital charges were much higher, Lomax said. The other hospital bill totaled $1,985.85 for 11 days. When the cost of the operating room and recovery room were subtracted, the bill was $1,598.80. The Juab County Hospital bill was $1,600 for 6 days. According to John McLain, hospital administrator, an infection is often medically more expensive to treat. The cost of hospitalizing a person at the other hospital mentioned was only $180 per day. He said that unless a hospital were tax or church supported, it could not function on $180 per day. McLain said that many insurance companies had become aware of the pricing problems and so were now offering to pay customary and usual charges for the hospital instead of following schedules. McLain disagreed with Lomax that people werent using the hospital because of the excessive rates charged, but felt the problem had been due to the peoples loss of faith in the local doctors. Seven physicians have left the area in the last six years. Two of those retired but the others moved to other localities. McLain said that the people need to have a doctor that they know will stay in the area. It takes time to build faith in a physician, he said, and the two new doctors have been in the area only since August. He also cited hospital renovations that were necessary; for example, the boiler system and air conditioning systems need to be completely revamped. This demands the hospital increase rates, he said. Charges are also listed in different ways at different hospitals, he said. Lomax was convinced that hospital rates needed to be adjusted to meet those of the surrounding area. When an insurance company sells a certain amount of insurance, thats what they pay, he said. It was pointed out that last year the hospital still ran in the red. The county had to pay about $175,000 to the hospital last year. The community needs to know that the hospital has to pay its way, said Larry Peterson, board member. He agreed that it was a tough situation, but Advanced Health Systems ( AHS) wants to make the hospital pay its way. Lomax was questioned as to how many of the hospitals in his survey were operating in the black and how many had tax or other funding aid. It was pointed out that the hospital may begin to slack up on charges after the hospital begins to operate in the black. Bill Rosquist of AHS, said that some of the rates had already been adjusted, and a new schedule adopted. The philosophy is different, but the goal is the same, he said. Chairman of the Board Don Eyre asked that Nephi citizens cooperate with the hospital board and with the staff. |