[Editor's Note: This is part one of several articles on the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees monthly meeting on Oct. 26, 2018.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees began its monthly meeting on Oct. 26, 2018 with a safety moment from Chief Nursing Officer Peggy White.

"Flu season is upon us," White said. "Our Chief Quality Officer Tanya Carroccio suggested the Fist Bump initiative, so that during flu season, people don't shake hands, which tends to spread germs, but just do fist bumps."

Chief Executive Officer Taffy Arias said the hospital had gone on lockdown for safety reasons. A patient had been admitted to the hospital, as a result of being hit during a family dispute. The alleged perpetrator had been arrested, but then was let go. "We were afraid he would come back and do something else to her or to our staff. As the patient was being discharged, he came back through the emergency room for something that was not an emergency, so we went on lockdown. Always be aware ad keep safety in mind."

Board Chairman Mike Morones said he agreed with the lockdown. "We need to be more cautious."

Trustee Tony Trujillo moved to have part of the executive session concerning the audit to be placed after public input for executive session part 1. It was approved.

Morones introduced the hospital's auditor, Tom Dingus. "He's been on site doing the audit. The report he will give has to be in executive session, because it is not yet approved by the state auditor. Once approved by the state, after a five-day waiting period, it will be public information."

Morones also recognized Denice Baird for her 20 years of service in regulatory compliance. Carroccio explained that Baird is usually at the meetings, but she was preparing for the Rope 4 Hope event that would take place the following day to raise money for meals for cancer patients at the hospital.

During public input, Chris DeBolt said she wanted to talk a few minutes about the Stepping Up Initiative. "The hospital is a crucial member. Through SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) at the national level, the model was adopted by a number of states. It is a county-driven program. The New Mexico Counties association has adopted it and so has the U.S. Association of Counties."

"It is a workable model, tweaked through the county," DeBolt said. "We use common interceptors of connections and behavioral health, including drugs and mental health issues. Jails have become the place where those with mental health end up. The model looks at people through the sequential intercept model to keep people who do not belong in jail out of jail."

The steering committee is made up of the district attorney, the hospital and EMS (emergency medical services), law enforcement and Hidalgo Medical Services, which will offer services through Tu Casa. Systems support will come from the detention center and dispatch. She said it has also been suggested that the fire departments should have representation.

"We are driving for as clear a system as possible," DeBolt said "Trial attorneys are becoming involved with people who come through the system. We are trying to get in front of that. The steering committee is meeting monthly through April. Hopefully by then, the county can hire someone through grant funding, maybe through Con Alma or the Freeport-McMoRan Community Investment Fund."

She said she helped pull the program back together and explained that the steering committee is kind of a closed group, in order to determine what the law allows and doesn't allow. "Public safety will be a major concern, because some need to be incarcerated. But so many inmates are not getting attention for their mental health needs. The intention is to build a system, then it will be open to the public. We are doing asset mapping and gap analyses and determining what we can change to make it better."

Trujillo said it would require funding. DeBolt said the county is writing for a CIF grant. "Otherwise, there really is no other funding. Taffy was at the last meeting. I asked her to involve EMS."

During board input, Morones gave an overview of what had happened since the last meeting when he asked for Taffy and him to meet with HMS. "We met with Dan Otero, HMS chief executive officer. It was a good meeting. Maybe not the most comfortable, but issues were aired out on both sides, as we came to an agreement on the building in Bayard. It was good for both parties, and the end result was positive."

Jeannie Miller, who called in from Seattle, gave a short Quality Improvement Committee meeting report, "in case I can't give it later. Quality drives finance and safety. Finance and safety drive quality. They are all inter-related."

Trustee Dr. Victor Nwachuku said things are getting better at the hospital, "but there are still lots of things to do. We are a very good hospital in quality. We are not there yet financially, but we're getting there."

Trustee Dr. Tsering Sherpa said morale is slowly picking up among the staff, and they are going ahead and doing their work.

Trustee Ed Wilmot thanked the board members and especially Chief Financial Officer Richard Stokes and Arias for being patient with him, as the newbie. "I do appreciate it. Having operated facilities my whole life, I've been on track on keeping infrastructure up. The issue is how to improve communications. I have some ideas."

Trujillo said what stands out to him is patient-centered care, which is in the mission of the board. "That's what we're about."

He noted that the Prospectors' Legislative Forum is coming up. "The state has new revenue of at least $1.6 billion. We need to stand in line for some of it, along with everyone else. On the topic of flu shots, I saw a poster at the Wellness Center. Flu is serious stuff. Is there anything we can do to encourage the campaign to get everyone to get a flu shot?"

On a personal note, Trujillo said he spent a whole day with his brother in radiation. "Just talking to them, I found everyone had a great attitude. I was totally impressed with the quality of care my brother got."

Trustee Joel Schram said: "I got my flu shot. This is almost my third year on the board. For the past several months, I've seen the board members being more engaged in the committee meetings and holding the leadership accountable."

The trustees went into the first executive session, which was limited to the auditor report.