Board reviews drafts for clinic change

Whitman Hospital district board members met in a special session last Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the hospital’s administration wing to review progress for acquiring the medical clinic and reaching agreement with physicians of Whitman Medical Group to provide services.

The board reviewed a 36-page draft for acquiring assets of the clinic and a 16-page draft of a professional agreement with Whitman Medical Group.

The hospital board has targeted Oct. 1 as the date to conclude the agreement with possible action by the board at their next meeting Sept. 18.

Hospital CEO Hank Hanigan reported he learned at a meeting with some of the doctors the prior evening that the pending agreement has not yet been reviewed by their attorney. Allowing time for that review could put back the date for concluding the agreement, he added.

Under the proposal, the hospital will take over operation of the clinic. That will include staffing, inventory, operating systems and billings of patients.

Hanigan noted the hospital already owns the clinic building, and the plan for acquiring clinic assets connected with its operation can be done with the use of hospital reserve funds.

The professional agreement with the medical group now calls for a set sum over a three-year period with another six months possible for negotiating an agreement for the next team.

“The aim is to keep the level of service where it is now, which is very good,” Hanigan commented.

Whitman Medical Group now includes six physicians and five advance practice practitioners.

They would continues to serve the clinic, hospital, emergency room and the clinics at St. John and Tekoa.

Among topics discussed by the board last week was timing of patient reports, staffing levels and the area of a designated no-competition zone requirement in the event one of the members of the group decides to depart and start a practice elsewhere.

Board president Cherry Alice Van Tine presided at the session with board members Bob Vuletich, Georgie Leinweber, Tim Bruya and Martin Marler attending. Also present were Bruce Ensley, board attorney, and Abby Smith, financial officer.