ashe

Some people have valid complaints against ARHC, but since watauga and blowing rock turned over operations of their hospitals, I don't think the towns or county have been having to foot much of a bill. They still have some costs, but for the most part ARHC keeps everything running.

ARHC may not be the best choice that Ashe could pick, but the hospital should look for a similar situation. Unfortunately, too many of the county are too backwoods old school and small minded thinking to be willing to even consider giving up control

18 trustees elected by AMH stockholders, according to a previous story in The Jefferson Post, written by Adam Orr. Jim Gambill was chairman.

True, but the ABC store is making money and doesn't have the Feds designing programs so that the lame and lazy get free services like they do with health services.

I've been here for quite some time and I dont remember the information being on here or at the time I paid little attention to it. I searched the hospital web site for a list of the current trustees. No luck. Even the liquor store board members are on the web. LOL

The Trustees are elected by the shareholders of the AMH Corporation. This entity was formed in 1929 when they were raising money to build the original facility. You are still able to purchase shares in the corporation and by owing a share you are eligible to serve as a Trustee. The Trustees meet no less than once per year in November to elect/select Trustees. There is a nominating committee who puts forth a slate of candidates for consideration but nominations are also taken from the floor. Typically there are 6 Trustees whose three year term expires each year, there are no term limits.

Who appoints the trustees to the hospital?

Why does any business outsource a department or service? The complexities of managing a Hospital are pretty enormous, the Trustees are really just paying for their consultants upfront, if you think a small rural hospital could survive without help from consultants or a larger system you're just uninformed about operating in the healthcare environment.

To averagebear: "Don't underestimate me. I know more than I say, think more than I speak, and notice more than you realize"!!!!!!

They for sure are not running it or making decisions like it were their money that is being lost.

Why don't the Hospital Board of Trustees run the hospital? Why can't they hire their own employee to manage the hospital instead of paying $400,000 to have Novant hire someone who has not run a hospital before? This is what I don't understand - what do the Trustees actually do?

Better yet, dog, let's turn the place into a first class bar an house for harlots......something useful and would bring money into the county.

Lease the entire hospital out. Dont lease it to baptist in winston, they are broke themselves and forsyth cant manage it now. There problem solved.

You are entirely correct on it being largely the fault of the parents Bear - I never said it wasn't. Parents who grew up with little or nothing have too often made it a point to make sacrifices and hand out everything their kids want and or ask for which has been detrimental to them in the long run. My point was that it has largely been lost and is indeed the cause of many local problems. The hospitals problems, I dare say, stem from both locals and immigrants who use and abuse the system.

@onlyinashe, I would say you're right on the mark with the Emergency Dept being a major cause for loss. How many of us know the people who run to the emergency room for a sinus infection, etc. and have no way or intention of paying for the service? I guess they lost their mountain pride.

Oh, and concerning "mountain pride" issue, you must consider that pride is established and nurtured within the household by parents. You can't pin that on "the system". People who truly have pride will reinvent themselves and succeed when necessary. You must have seen the documentary.

ncmm 1959, I don't believe that you have been following along very well, While Mt. Hearts does operate at a loss it is far from the biggest loser at AMH. I believe if a service line analysis was performed the winner in overall loss would be the Emergency Department followed closely by the Hospitalist program. As mentioned previously AMH provides over $3,000,000 in free care, at cost, to the citizens of Ashe County, that is what the Board is asking the County for assistance with.

@59, I would consider "A" as an opinion, but "B - E" are definitely fact based. So, am I to understand you would advocate not assisting the AMH due to the pool at Mtn Hearts? That sort of sounds like throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Averagebear...your comments are personal opinions and offer no educational benefits at all in your responses to others that have posted on this thread. Additionally, have you ever heard the saying "People who live in glass houses...."? You ENTIRELY missed the point of...let me make it simple for you...the county manager expecting the county taxpayers obligating money to the hospital when their MAIN deficit has already been identified by them as their pool. Why not close it or lease it and the building out and operate in the black vs. operating in the red as they currently are?

A) I agree with Fins concerning the higher rate of taxation on the second homes - very good point.
B) Mtn...1959, you do realize that you used a lot of space to say absolutely nothing or make any points?
C) Bench, you continue to be be stupid and we can't fix that with any kind of logic.
D) If you want your county to retain residents, the hospital has to be in operation. Ashe has nothing to attract healthy, young people to live here. The vast majority of new residents to Ashe are going to be retirees and want access to a hospital they can get to quick.
E) Do the math and look at what this increase will actually cost you, the consumer, per $100. I could give you the answer, but this should be considered an educational moment.

ncmtnman 1959 HOw many of these things have you experienced yourself? Lots of us have stories told to us by others, I can pass on many stories which directly contradict the stories you are telling about Ashe Memorial. I don't disagree that the County does not need to be supporting services which are considered non-essential, The Fitness Center is a drain on AMH, but there are hundreds of folks who tell stories about how utilizing the facility has changed their lives, might have even saved their lives. Recent annual reports show AMH providing over $3,000,000 in uncompensated care to residents of Ashe County, that is care provided at cost to the folks who are our friends and neighbors, is the county responsible for funding any of that? A quarter cent on the sales tax rate is not to much to ask for, in my mind.