REACH speaks with ECRMC
EL CENTRO — Following El Centro Regional Medical Center’s decision to not renew a current agreement with REACH Air Medical Services, members of the aerial medical provider approached the ECRMC board on Tuesday evening to express their concerns regarding the matter.
Director of Business Development for REACH Air Medical Services Donald Wharton told the board he was concerned about the possibility of the hospital deciding to enter into a similar agreement with another service provider once the current agreement between ECRMC and REACH expires in late January.
“I’m asking this board to reaffirm and renew our long-standing partnership ship that has served this community, this county and the citizens and most importantly the patients that we share,” Wharton said.
ECRMC chief executive officer Adolphe Edward spoke at the meeting to clarify the decision made by the hospital regarding the contract. He explained that the ECRMC Board of Trustees asked him to review current contracts and although they will not renew the contract, they will continue to work with REACH. The contract made allowed REACH to be the sole service provider for the hospital.
In an interview prior to the meeting, Edward said the board authorized him to move forward with notifying REACH the hospital would not renew the current contract in June and submitted a letter to Wharton earlier this month. He also said prior to sending the letter, he met with Wharton to make him aware of the hospital’s intent of not renewing the contract.
“Exercising the option of exiting the contract gives us the opportunity to evaluate what we’re doing as a facility, we’re doing [it] for this and every contract,” Edward said during the meeting. “We are going to continue that relationship past January, the change here is to get out of a contract that is not needed, but continue to use a service that is much needed by the community.”
During his remarks, Edward showed his REACH membership card to REACH representatives as an indication that he doesn’t have any problem with the company.
George Nava, who is the Area Director for REACH said he was concerned about what options the more than 30,000 REACH members in the county would have after the contract expired.
ECRMC physician and board member Christian Tomaszewski told the members of the audience that after January, patients will still be able to request the service provider of their choice, but added that approximately a third of their patients who’ve required the service have been REACH members. He said that by eliminating the exclusivity to work with REACH, it may allow physicians more freedom to determine who to contact regarding the rest of their patients based on availability, response time and specific needs of each patient.
Members of the community such as County Supervisor Ryan Kelley, Thomas Henderson from the Imperial County Medical Society, Kay Day Pricola, the Executive Director of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business and Haydee Rodriguez, a Central Union High School and National Board Certified teacher, asked the board to reconsider their decision and continue the close partnership they’ve had with REACH.
Wharton told the board if the exclusivity component was the problem but the rest of the contract was agreeable, to continue the conversation and find a more suitable contract that satisfies all parties.
Since the comments were made during the public comment portion of the agenda, no action was taken, however, board member Joe Picazo Jr. said the board would further discuss the issue.