Hospital board miffed
Board members question lack of Bush reception invitation
Ector County Hospital District board members gave a representative from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center an earful Tuesday night.
Dr. Moss Hampton, giving the Texas Tech report usually issued by regional dean Dr. John Jennings, learned how upset some of the board members were about not receiving invitations to today’s reception featuring first lady Laura Bush.
“I would have thought that the board would have been at the top of that list,” board member Mary Thompson said. “I’m very upset that we weren’t invited.”
Hampton said seating was limited and controlled by Texas Tech’s chancellor’s office and the White House.
“There’s a lot of people across the street that would agree with you 100 percent,” he told Thompson.
Organizing the reception, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Texas Tech, has been an up-and-down ordeal for university officials, Hampton said.
“There’s going to be a lot of good publicity out of it,” he said, “but we will be very glad when it’s over.”
In hospital-related action, the board did approve a radiology information system and picture archival and communication system for $1.524 million. The agreement with DR Systems includes four years of maintenance.
The system will streamline the radiology department’s workload with one vendor, Carol Evans, divisional director of nursing services said.
Other expenditure requests were granted for a $210,000 portable X-ray unit, a $375,000 upgrade to the accounting and budgeting system and $500,000 toward a communitywide electronic medical record.
In other action, the board approved:
>> A physician recruitment services agreement with The Pacific Companies for $206,500. It is designed to help lure seven doctors in subspecialties.
>> A recruitment agreement with a family physician. Dr. Bruce Becker, Medical Center Hospital’s chief medical officer, said it’s based on a physician manpower study.
>> A medical triage officer agreement. Becker said the officer is needed to address increased patient flow in the winter as part of a strategic plan. An existing staff member would fill the position.
>> A ProCare bylaws amendment that removes the word “unreasonably” from an amendment approved last month. That amendment allowed doctors in a new radiology group to perform services at other hospitals.
