Elgin "pulls out" from  clinic operation
    About sixty people from the Hebron community gathered at the Brick City Senior Citizen Center Wednesday, April 16.
    A public meeting had been called by the board of the Hebron Community Hospital, also known as the big brick building at the east end of Hebron’s main street that houses a clinic, dental and chiropractor’s office.
    Muriel Stiller, president of the board, introduced Jim Opdahl, who fills the role as interim administrator at both the Elgin and Richardton hospitals.
    Opdahl announced that the Jacobson Memorial Hospital plans to suspend operation of the Hebron satellite clinic Monday, June 30.
    That wasn’t what the community of Hebron wanted to hear.
    Opdahl stated that 95% of all clinics in North Dakota don’t make any money. Many have set up foundations to help sustain operations.
    He stated that the Richardton hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson and the Elgin hospital are all struggling.
    The lack of adequate Medicare reimbursement is one of the main reasons clinics and hospitals are running short of funds.
    Another problem is recruitment of significant staff and the necessity to upgrade equipment.
    Last year, Opdahl reported, the Elgin facility had a loss of $230,000. He stated that they must look at their own survival to keep health care services in that community.
    The "books" show that the Hebron clinic lost $63,000 during the last year, the Glen Ullin clinic lost $2,000 and the Elgin clinic lost $72,000.
    The Hebron clinic had 1300 office visits during the last year but actually need 2500 to 3000 to "break even".
    So, Opdahl added, the support of a clinic by a community is also a big factor.
    Mr. Opdahl stated that there is "still some hope" of reopening the clinic at a later date.
    Three important areas to be faced is utilization of a clinic – the community has to use the services. He added that the Hebron clinic "could make a go of it" if they had the 2500 to 3000 patients a year.
    A second important area is to find consistent quality providers, to have a physician here each day. He added that Lynda Hoerauf had been a stabilizing force at the Hebron clinic.
    The third, Opdahl reported, is that new x-ray equipment and laboratory equipment is needed. He stated that if the Hebron clinic had this new equipment, it would be a big help in keeping patients coming through its doors.
    He stated that new x-ray equipment would cost $15,000 and new lab equipment, another $15,000.
    He mentioned that in communities that have Home Rule Charter, city sales tax is used to keep clinics open. He stated that Richardton now has a 1.5 sales tax and the funding goes to the hospital.
    He also stated that Lynda Hoerauf planned to retire "once again" on May 1 and thanked her for what she has done for the clinic throughout the years.
    He stated that no employee at the Hebron clinic will lose their position and that they could transfer to the Elgin hospital or clinic.
    The Glen Ullin clinic will remain open; all records from the Hebron clinic will be located in Elgin and could be transferred to another clinic.
    He introduced Dawn Berg, Chief Executive Officer, Coal Country Community Health Centers in Beulah.
    Berg stated that she thinks there are opportunities to work together with the Hebron clinic but naturally her board would "have to put their blessings on it".
    She stated that they would need to be innovative, share a provider and she was sure that her board would allow her to do some investigative work.
    Al Feist, secretary of the Hebron Community Hospital board, introduced their board - Muriel Stiller, president, Keith Wallin, vice president, Jim Heinert, treasurer, Wilbert Buchli, Richard Frandsen, Jack Hauser and Allan Sayler. There is one vacancy on the board.
    He explained that their board’s basic job is "landlord" - to make improvements at the building and keep the rent as low as possible while trying to keep the operation going. He stated that the board has no expertise in administering a clinic.
    Feist was asked - "where do we go from here". He stated that the board plans to meet with Dawn Berg from Coal Country. Mr. Opdahl had given them some ideas and he hoped to get some individuals together who are willing to "work on this".
    Berg stated that she is willing to talk with the board and Opdahl stated that he would be willing to "share numbers".
    Berg stated that she could see no reason why a clinic in Hebron could not be served by "someone".
    Following the meeting, Lyle Arthaud, president of the Brick City Senior Citizens, announced that in the event the clinic would close, persons are invited to travel on the center’s bus to Dickinson or Bismarck for medical treatment. He added that persons do not have to be a member of the senior citizen group in Hebron to travel on the bus."