This fall, the Grant County Commission established a Taskforce to begin thoughtful discussions about Gila Regional Medical Center’s (GRMC) future. Guided by the goal of doing what’s best for the patients served by GRMC, this Taskforce has begun exploring whether GRMC should remain independent, or whether partnering with another health system is the best manner in which to secure Grant County’s healthcare future.

The decision to explore these options comes in light of the sweeping changes taking place in today’s healthcare industry. Like GRMC, rural hospitals across the country are exploring these same scenarios.

We are beginning this important work because families in our community count on us to make informed and thoughtful decisions so we can continue delivering high-quality, cost-effective care and a superior patient experience.

As we begin this process, we will explore whether remaining independent or entering into a partnership is the best way to:

  • Provide resources needed to enhance and expand facilities and services so we can increase access to our patients;
  • Recruit and retain physicians, nurses and other caregivers to Silver City so our patients can receive the care they need here at home;
  • Provide the financial security GRMC needs to continue providing our patients with quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for generations to come.

We know the community is interested in the future of local healthcare and we are committed to keeping you informed. We are at the very beginning of a process that will take several months and will include internal assessment work with the goal of improving our hospital, as well as a thorough review of the options available to us to ensure we maintain the services we provide today in a way that can be sustained well into the future.

It is important for you to know that selling the hospital is not the sole objective of our work and no decisions regarding GRMC’s future have been made as a result of the Taskforce being formed and meeting. We are thoughtfully exploring all of the available options in order to make a fully informed decision about the future GRMC. Ensuring financial stability and continued high quality care are of the utmost importance to the Taskforce.

Be assured this will be a deliberate process. At the conclusion of this exploration and education work, the Taskforce will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners will then determine if a partnership or remaining independent is truly what’s best for GRMC, our patients and our community.

Together, we can protect what we have today and chart a path forward to secure the brightest possible healthcare future for Silver City.

Gila Regional Medical Center Taskforce Members

Taffy Arias                                            Dr. Michelle Diaz
GRMC CEO                                         GRMC Physician

Alicia Edwards                                     Brett Kasten
Grant County Commissioner               Grant County Commissioner

Jeannie Miller                                      Mike Morones
GRMC Board of Trustees                   GRMCBoard of Trustees

Dr. John Stanley                                Charlene Webb
GRMC Physician                               Grant County  Manager

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.