RHCD to sign resolution supporting senior housing projects

PINEDALE – In a show of support for the upcoming senior housing projects, Sublette County Rural Health Care District Board (RHCD) Chairman Dave Racich suggested the board sign a resolution showing the RHCD favored new senior housing facilities at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

“I just wanted to throw this out to see what the RHCD thought about signing a resolution for rebuilding the Sublette Center,” Racich told the board. “It’s not something that will cost money, just something that will say we’re supporting [the rebuild].”

Using a resolution already created and signed by the Town of Pinedale, Racich explained the statement discusses the structural issues of the existing center, the need for a brand new facility and the fact that improved senior housing is in the best interest of the county and its residents.

Racich’s resolution focused mainly on the importance of a new Sublette Center in Pinedale, leading Vice Chairman Jason Zakotnik to suggest including the countywide senior housing projects. Racich agreed including the projects in Marbleton was a good idea.

“I’m perfectly fine signing the resolution,” Secretary-Treasurer Cindy Van said. “I think [the projects] need to happen. I have family who live there, and I fully support it. I plan to be there one day.”

Racich said he would re-draft the resolution to include support for all of Sublette County’s senior housing projects and have it ready for the board to sign at its next

meeting.

Also at the meeting:

• CEO Rob Harding gave the board an update on the transition from paper to electronic medical records (EMR).

In February, Harding approached the board and explained switching to an EMR system would drastically improve patient services and allow for streamlined and up-to-the-minute access of medical charts and records.

At the February meeting, the board approved a motion for Harding to enter into a contract with EMR company Centricity.

In May and June, Harding explained, the RHCD purchased the hardware and software and installed wireless internet in both the Pinedale and Big Piney clinics, spending a total of $162,000.

Some nurses in the clinics also tested tablets, devices similar to iPads, to see which ones were the most user friendly. Instead of having mountains of paper charts, the entire RHCD patient database could be carried on the lightweight devices.

Harding said the EMR system was going “to hit the ground running” in July with computer-based training classes, software installation and orientation for the clinic employees.

The entire system should be fully operational, Harding added, in four to six months, longer than he would have liked.

“It’s a little later than I hoped, but you need to put your time into the training and installation,” Harding said. “We’re going to go about it methodically, but quickly as

possible.”

• The next meeting is July 18 at 7 p.m. in the County Commissioner’s Room in Pinedale.