By Mary Alice Murphy

The committee made up of 15 Gila Regional Medical Center personnel and retirees, and community members representing physicians, county and municipal government, county school districts, Freeport McMoRan Cooper & Gold Inc., Western New Mexico University, Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce and Hidalgo Medical Services met at noon Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. A few were unable to attend, but will be caught up on the overview by GRMC Board of Trustees Chairman Jeremiah Garcia and Trustee Tony Trujillo, CEO Transition Committee chairman.

"This is an orientation session for committee members," Trujillo said. "We appreciate your coming and engaging with us." He said the process would be led to fulfill the mission, vision and values of Gila Regional. The mission is "Providing exceptional quality, patient-centered care in healing"; the vision is "To be the best place to: Receive Care, Work and Practice Medicine"; and the values are "I.C.A.R.E.: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence."

Garcia welcomed the committee members and said: "The recent drastic changes have been hard on the board. We have had to look at where we're going in two, five and 10 years. We lost our chief executive officer and brought in as the interim CEO Alfredo Ontiveros, who knows our hospital, our people and the community. We have tasked him with assessing the hospital and looking at the finances. It is a time out, while we look at what the hospital is doing. Tony is a key player with a background in human resources. He has helped put in the plan for the process. His recommendation was to look to the stakeholders to help us choose the correct CEO."

He pointed out, briefly on a different issue, that HB 202, which passed the New Mexico House today would disproportionately hit this hospital and this community. It will impact the whole community and county.

Trujillo said he wanted to involved stakeholders to bring value to the table. "I was born and raised here. I plan to remain here and I want a good hospital."

He gave an overview of the agenda, which first involved the introduction by each member of the Selection Committee and why they wanted to be part of the process.

Dr. Brian Robinson, representing the Independent Physicians Association, said for him accountability is utmost.

Denise McNutt, GRMC nurse, said she hopes the next CEO will work with the Nursing Department on retention to continue to provide quality care.

James Marshall, Silver City assistant town manager and former 20-plus year employee at GRMC, said he has sat on selection committees for the hospital and the university. "We need a CEO that understands it is a community hospital."

Mary Harcinski, R.N., who is now a GRMC data analyst, said she wanted to be involved. "I am looking forward to participating with the community. We want as a hospital to be able to provide the most services possible for our community members."

Ontiveros said he is not a member of the committee, but is serving as administrative support. "I'm here as long as the Board of Trustees wants me here. I want to address some rumors. We are not selling the hospital. We are not closing the hospital. We have no agendas. I'm taking a look at the Meditech 6 upgrade and am not backing off the go live date of June 1. I am here to review the revenue cycle and fix some issues. I will look at staffing levels so the hospital is efficient and effective in what we do. I am not looking at the front-line caregiversG