Dateline: February 12, 2004

MCNH officials clarify transportation charge

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A letter from the Medical Center Nursing Home to families of its residents has caused some confusion, but MCNH officials say nothing is really changing in the way they serve those in their care.

The letter, signed by Donley County Hospital District Administrator Alan Graham, says that effective January 26, 2004, MCNH residents will be charged 36¢ per mile plus hourly labor charges for transportation to special events.

The letter fails to specify that “special events” refers to weddings, family reunions, graduations, or other private special events which are not sponsored by the nursing home. Transportation to and from events sponsored by MCNH will not be subject to extra charges.

Graham said he probably should have clarified that point in the letter, but he said the new policy is not much different from the old one, which charged a flat rate for use of the MCNH bus and relied on residents’ families to pay a gratuity to the employee accompanying the resident. 

The charges are necessary to cover the costs of fuel and maintenance on the MCNH bus and to fairly compensate any staff who were otherwise volunteering their time for residents’ private special events.

The confusion of the January 26 letter also generated some comments around town that the nursing home had decided to abandon its Family Night activities and other special events for residents, their families, and the public. This is also incorrect.

The hospital board did discuss those activities late last year, but they decided at their November meeting to continue those events by a 6-1 vote (board member Alan Fletcher opposed).

Graham said only a few people had called him about the January 26 letter to ask for clarifications. He said he believes the hospital district is moving forward and said many good things are happening.

“I’m working closely with the board to take the district in a positive direction,” he said. “We may not all always agree, but we can agree to disagree and go on. It’s a team effort.

“Ultimately, the residents of Medical Center Nursing Home are our chief concern, and we are all responsible to the citizens of Donley County.”