Rumors of a major restructuring of Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez are false. That was the message given to about 20 members of the public who came to Wednesday night’s meeting of the Southwest Heath System board. Several said they’d heard that the hospital might be outsourced to private equity firms and that there would be more contract and temporary employees hired. Molly Cooper of Dolores said if any restructuring is planned, there should be outreach to the public first. She said, “In a small community, transparency is everything.” SHS CEO Joe Theine said the board has told him that the one thing he cannot do is give up local control of the hospital. He said, “There is no outside firm coming in to buy, acquire, or operate the hospital.” Regarding staff, board member Eric Croke said health care has changed and doctors are now almost like free agents who can leave their employer whenever they want. Croke said sometimes the hospital does have to contract with outside health-care providers but that is very expensive. He said, “We’re doing everything we can to keep our physicians here.” Board member Dr. David Dull said the issue of contract employees vs. staff is complicated. At his suggestion, the board voted to put the topic on the agenda of a future meeting.
Gail Binkly is a career journalist who has worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Cortez Journal, and was the editor of the Four Corners Free Press, based in Cortez.