UMC CEO Valenti Holds Town Hall Meeting

in months, university medical center ceo jim valenti spoke with abc-7 about the el paso children’s hospital situation. the two groups are working to close a deal that will stabilize both hospitals’ finances. abc-7’s ashlie rodriguez was at the county hospital today. she tells us, c-e-o jim valenti told folks on hand that the deal between umc and children’s hospital could use some help from up above: i was able to speak with valenti after his town hall with umc employees had ended. in fact, valenti met twice today with the hospital’s staff to talk about fiscal year 2015 and of course, children’s hospital. …The second topic we’re in the middle of our budgets… It’s shaping up to be a very good year. valenti spoke before a group of about 50 associates– his assessment of the on-going negotiations between umc and el paso children’s included a request for those who believe in prayer … to pray. What we’re trying to do is really strengthen Children’s on the business side of it, on the reimbursements. he didn’t go into details. umc and children’s are still working to finalize an agreement. umc would like to apply to for medicaid reimbursement on behalf of children’s for up to $2 million– money children’s could really use. but he says without a deal between the two hospitals, those federal reimbursements can’t be taken advantage of. It doesn’t affect us as far as staffing on the contrary, i think this is going to be a very good relationship. We’re so close together, it just makes sense we work together. valenti says umc will have a fatter budget for 2015 and 16 due to newly approved medicaid supplemental reimbursement. It’s millions of dollars –About a million dollars per month. So it’s a very important development. that revenue injection of revenue may benefit employees. valenti told associates he’s looking into merit and market salary adjustments. umc is also looking forward to opening three additional clinics, as well as a new nursing unit at the hospital and nearly complete renovations. although the deal with children’s hangs heavy over valenti’s head, he’s encouraged. We all believe in the Children’s hospital, we all believe in the mission. this town hall meeting isn’t a regular event. valenti said he wanted to do it this year in honor of hospital and nurses week this month. but getting back to the deal between children’s and umc — both parties has set a deadline of friday to work out the agreement. another umc board meeting will be held monday at 3 in the afternoon — there, members could possibly take action and announce any updates on the deal. you can count on abc-7 to be there. since the storms of 2006, we’ve all had to shell