PMC Expansion Construction Planned for April

The Prowers Medical Center Board of Directors plans to announce the newest board member by their February 25 meeting.  The hospital has advertised for a replacement board member since Kevin McGrath resigned late last year.  PMC is still open to candidates, as board chair, Julie Branes, stated,” Any interested candidate may contact Karen Bryant, Craig Loveless, our Chief Executive Officer, or any board member to learn about the responsibilities that go with the position.”  McGrath resigned effective December 31, 2014, giving the board 60 days to appoint a new director.  The announcement will be made during the meeting at the Granada Complex.  PMC board members decided they would begin to hold meetings once a quarter at a different community within the hospital district.

The Prowers Medical Center Foundation has planned an informal fundraising dinner and dance for April 18 at the Rodeway Cow Palace Inn.  Foundation Director, Susan Lamont, told the board, “The event has been named the ‘Jeans and Greens Spring Swing’ to denote casual attire as in blue jeans, as well as something green.”  She said the funds raised through the event, as well as a silent auction, will go towards the development of a Breast Clinic at the hospital.  Tickets will cost $50 per person and a corporate table will be $1,000.  The evening will include dancing, a buffet dinner and a cash bar.

Lamont noted that LiveWell Prowers County designated the hospital as its fiscal agent for another year which will add $7,000 to the Foundation finances and they received notification of a renewed grant from the Wyganant Fund for 2015.

Craig Loveless, PMC, Chief Executive Officer, noted there was a short delay receiving the final documents and plans needed to secure a building permit for the hospital’s renovation project.  “We’re scheduled to have them on February 13, but that will have no change on the start of the construction which will be determined mostly by warmer weather.”  He added that as of now, the groundbreaking would take place on April 1 and an open house and groundbreaking event would be planned for the occasion.  He noted that the completed set of drawings for the improvements and expansion project would be posted for viewing by the public.

Efforts are continuing at PMC to increase the use of the Patient Portal, a website link to the hospital that allows a patient to privately review personal medical information or to schedule an appointment with their medical provider.  Visitors to the hospital are giving access to a room with a computer and two staff members have been designated to assist them with the necessary steps to log on and develop their own link to the portal.

Loveless added that additional meetings have been planned with Parkview Hospital officials in Pueblo and Lamar to finalize the program in which Parkview doctors will come to Lamar to treat local patients and assist PMC with developing future health care programs.  “We’re looking at ways in which we can continue to provide vital services to the community so their health care remains in their home town,” he told the board.  Loveless expected the final meeting to be in early May.

By Russ Baldwin

(Editor’s Note:  The PMC Board of Director’s February meeting will be held at Shorty’s Restaurant in Granada and not the Town Complex)

Addition:

To the Management of Shorty’s Café and the Community:

First and foremost, on behalf of Prowers Medical Center (PMC) kindly accept our sincere apologies for the misinformation publicized about your business after our January 28^th, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting. We accept full responsibility for the misinformation.  We had recently received word that Shorty’s Café was closing and failed to verify the accuracy of this report prior to making a recommendation to relocate the February 25^th Board Meeting that had originally been scheduled at your restaurant. We sincerely regret the error we have made and assure you we are taking the necessary steps to prevent it from happening in the future. Shorty’s Café is still open and continues to thrive and provide great food and service to the residents of Granada and many surrounding communities. Prowers Medical Center looks forward to working with the staff at Shorty’s Café as you make preparations to host our Board of Directors Meeting on February 25^th, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

Sincerely,
Prowers Medical Center