Dateline: February 2, 2006

Robertson begins duties as MCNH administrator

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Donley County Hospital Board unanimously hired Vicky Robertson as the new administrator of Medical Center Nursing Home during a called meeting Monday

Robertson, who passed her state and national administrative exams last week, brings a definite familiarity to the job, having served as the director of nurses at MCNH since June of 2000.

“I’m excited, and it will be a challenge,” Robertson said, “but it’s not like I’m brand new.”

In addition to her nursing background, Robertson has served as the nursing home’s administrator in-training under interim administrator Ron Wetzel since last March, and she also served on the hospital board during the early 1990s.

“We have a good group of people, and we work well together,” she said. “I think we’ll do great.”

Robertson said things are improving financially for the nursing home, which has been in the black since the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, 2005.

“Things are tremendously better. We feel very positive about it,” she said. “We watch our money, and we’re doing good.”

Succeeding Robertson as director of nurses will be Kenny Bridges of Howardwick, who will start February 13.

“He’s worked for BSA and has lived at Howardwick for several years,” Robertson said. “He knows the community and knows a lot of the people, and I think he will do a good job.”

As administrator, Robertson will be the head of the Donley County Hospital District and oversee the Associated Ambulance Authority in addition to the nursing home.

In other district business, Robertson briefed the board on a training course being held this month by the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission related to future preparedness assistance funding through the Department of Homeland Security. Robertson will attend the courses along with board members Alan Fletcher and Melinda McAnear.

The hospital board also met in regular session on January 24 and approved an order of election to be held May 13, 2006. Places 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the board are up for election this year. Those places are currently held by Gene Hommel, Carolyn Moffett, Onita Thomas, and Bright Newhouse.

Holly Eads gave an indigent care report and said three new applicants had been received and approved, one of which was for an inmate. Two six-month reviews were completed and benefits continued, and one application was denied. A reimbursement of $4,051.35 was received for a client who received Medicaid retroactively.

Associated Ambulance Authority Director Anita Aaron submitted an active report showing 63 calls serving 68 patients in the month of December.

Aaron also reported the receipt of $13,674 from the Amarillo Area Foundation which is 100 percent of the amount requested in the grant. A total of $21,667.68 has been received toward the purchase of an LP 12 heart monitor with a difference of $5,684.86 to be due from the authority. The sale of an older heart monitor will be applied to this amount.

The board approved a request by Aaron to purchase an Internet connection from AMA•TechTel for the ambulance service.