PMC Bond Issue Defeated, Farmer/Wyatt Elected

The proposed $5 million expansion plan for a Rehabilitation Outpatient Center at Prowers Medical Center was defeated at the polls Tuesday night, May 8 with 446 voting in favor of the bond issue and 1407 opposed, as Prowers Hospital District voters responded to the May 8 election which also saw balloting for two new board of director members.

PMC Designated Election Official, Audrey Kane, indicated that of the six candidates for the two seats, Ronnie Farmer and Andy Wyatt received the majority of votes, placing them on the board.  The two candidates receiving the majority of votes would assume the at-large positions, joining current board members, Chairman Jan Hall and Marge Campbell and Candy Ruedeman.  The votes for the six candidates are as follows:
Wyatt–1,021 Branes–793, Farmer–1,188, Yoder–178, Hudson–328 and Broyles–265.  The two new board members are replacing Gene Cruikshank and Joe Spitz who decided not to run for re-election.

If the Bond Issue had passed,  specific plans would have  been developed for a 13,000 square foot addition to the current hospital, allowing for several outpatient facilities which would treat cardiology and pulmonary patients on an outpatient basis.  Of the $5 million, $4 million would be earmarked for the expansion and $1 million would be allocated for a new HVAC and electrical system within Prowers Medical Center.  A series of informational town hall meetings were conducted throughout the county in April by James Fairchild, PMC Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Bryant, PMC Foundation Director.

The new board members will assume their duties as of May 23, the next regular board of director meeting scheduled at the hospital.  They will be joined by the interim CEO, recently hired as a temporary replacement for James Fairchild who announced his resignation from the hospital earlier this spring.  QHR, Quorum Health Resources, the hospital’s management firm , is conducting a search for a permanent replacement.
By Russ Baldwin