HLRC and PCH boards to hold joint meetings

The joint boards of the Hi-Line Retirement Center and the Phillips County Hospital held their first meeting on Monday, March 21st, since the separation of administration. They felt it was necessary to get together for the health care of Phillips County. They found that there were several areas that they were drifting apart in that through discussions they were going to work more on to hopefully offer better care to the county and to be more efficient for both facilities.

Marty Johnson, the Hospital board chair and Rick Mikkelson, HLRC board chair, met about a month and a half ago and set up the meeting.

In an interview with Rick Mikkelson at the Phillips County News on Tuesday, March 22nd, the following information was disclosed.

“It was very positive,” Mikkelson stated. “We had talked about this about a month and a half ago and finally got it together. Our goal is to get together about every three months to make sure that everything is going smoothly. There’s a lot of challenges today, as everybody is aware of, in healthcare. The Hi-Line is still fragile and we still need assistance from the Hospital to help us through this. The (hospital) board understands that very well and they are very willing to help us.”

None of the administrators were there, according to Mikkelson. The administration both work for independent facilities. The boards wanted to work for the county and the community.

“We weren’t trying to stand up there individually for what was going to work for the Hi-Line alone or the Hospital alone," Mikkelson stated. "We wanted what was best for both, not that there may have been any conflicts or differences but we felt that it would be best if just the boards get together and talk about it.”

The Hi-Line Retirement Center board members are: Rick Mikkelson, Cody Oxarart, Russ Osmundson, Suzanne Koss, Ken Wiederrick, Bob Maxie, Ruth Mitchell (secretary) and Iris Robinson who is the cross over member of both boards; and the Phillips County Hospital board members are: David Skiff, Dennis Broadbrooks, Marty Johnson, Troy Blunt, and Terry Skones. These were the members who were at this first meeting. If you have any questions or comments for any board member please contact them and they will address your concerns.

“I want to especially mention Iris because she is our cross over member," said Mikkelson. "She is the Hospital board member that also serves on the Hi-Line board. Her input was very instrumental for us to see some of the areas where we were drifting apart or areas we could work on better.. I just wanted to make sure that the residents of Phillips County knew that both boards are working together and offering the best we can. We are still very thankful for all the support that the community provides for us at the Hi-Line and the Phillips County Hospital.”

Mikkelson also stated, “Under one administrator before, Ward VanWichen, we didn’t have to meet because he would share things that had taken place and since then we really have forgotten how important it was that we were working together. The only thing that separates us is a door. There are so many things that we share; phone services, janitorial and supplies, tech support, many items. We need to keep that working and going smoothly and there’s been some wrinkles. But when we get together through discussion we can always make it work.”