Hospital board retreat

The Ector County Hospital District Board of Directors is ready for it yearly sojourn to the edges of the region to hold its annual retreat.

After a year at the Lajitas border resort, the retreat returns to the Hotel Paisano in Marfa. It begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Planned discussions at the retreat include a board "self-evaluation." Board Vice President David Dunn said this is the aspect of the retreat he most looks forward to because it gives the board a chance to grade itself and set goals.

"I like to see where we can make improvements," he said. "It kind of tells us where we stands as a board."

Board President Judy Hayes said she likes the strategic planning aspects of the retreat. John Froehlich and Jennifer Marshall of Thomson Healthcare will be on hand to discuss national trends and market assessment.

"It kind of gives us a road map of where we've been, where we are today and where we're going tomorrow," Hayes said.

Bill Webster, MCH chief executive officer, said projects that could be discussed include development plans for the hospital's outpatient complex in northeast Odessa and the planned Center for Women and Infants.

"We'll review our current strategic plans and how we're progressing toward meeting our objectives," he said.

The board will also hear from Steve Berkowitz of St. David's Healthcare who will speak about "quality improvement."

"He's kind of a nationally recognized speaker," Webster said. "We think that quality improvement is becoming increasingly important."

Abernethy said Berkowitz would receive a fee in addition to the cost of the retreat. He is also speaking to MCH workers in Odessa.

Webster says having the retreat far from Odessa is a good thing because isolation and limited cell phone reception provide a good working environment. He said it's also good because it allows the board to get out into the hospital's 17-county service area.

"I think it's also good for the board members to kind of recognize the size and scope of the area and see some of the small towns we serve," he said.

Dunn said it helps board members to not have to worry about their day jobs.

"It gives us a way to get away without a lot of interruptions," he said. "You really sit down and discuss what you think."

Hayes echoed those sentiments.

"It allows us to concentrate our efforts in what needs to be done for the betterment of the hospital," she said.

Richard Herrera plans to attend his first retreat as a board member. He said he looks forward to spending three days with "some of the best minds in Odessa."

"I'm pretty much just a sponge to suck up the information, and put up a couple of ideas," he said.

The board will also discuss:

>> Investment strategy with the Public Funds Investment Act.

>> Approval of real estate contracts for purchase of property.

>> A Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center update.

What does it cost?

This year's retreat will cost a projected $12,654 for rooms, meals and mileage. Last year's Lajitas retreat cost $16,000. The 2006 retreat cost $10,387.

Source: Robert Abernethy, MCH chief financial officer