By Wendy K. Kleinman
The Oklahoman
EL RENO, Okla. — The cost of ambulance services is handicapping El Reno’s hospital, causing its board to hire a management company last week to try to heal its budget and administration.
Quorum Health Resources beat out three contenders Tuesday night to manage Parkview Hospital for $30,000 per month for at least the next three to six months. The Tennessee-based company in part fills the voids left by several top executives who resigned amid the financial strains from ambulance services.
“We’re unique because ... the ambulance service is run out of the hospital, and that’s kind of a dying breed,” El Reno Mayor Matt White said. About 40 ambulance services in the state, or 25 percent, are operated by hospitals,said Shawn Rogers, director of emergency medical services for the state Health Department.
Losses are growing
The problems started in 2006, when hospital officials asked the city of El Reno for a $250,000 subsidy to continue operating three ambulances, Parkview chief executive officer Lex Smith said. That jumped to $300,000 for 2007 and 2008. The service still costs the hospital up to half a million dollars in annual losses.
Political wrangling
Financial strains of ambulance services were not the only reason for two top-level resignations at El Reno’s Parkview Hospital.
“The mayor has threatened to unseat the board virtually since he took office” in 2007, board vice chairwoman Dr. Margaret Mehle said. “When I asked him what his reason would be for unseating a stable board with many years of service and experience in health care, in essence, his answer was that we disagreed with him.”
The city council asked for a declaratory judgment from a judge, expected on Dec. 30, on whether the mayor has that power. Mayor Matt White, who had called for Chief Executive Lex Smith’s resignation, said he’s seen a recall petition circulating against him and that about half the signatures are by hospital employees. He said employees have fears about change and loyalty to Smith.