UMC: No resolution in sight for El Paso Children’s Hospital debt
ABC-7 continues to stay on top of the latest negotiations between El Paso Children’s Hospital and University Medical Center.
There was a board of managers meeting Tuesday afternoon that lasted more than four hours. For the second board meeting in a row, the negotiations between Children’s and UMC was discussed behind closed doors and no action was taken. A UMC spokesman said the debt Children’s owes UMC continues to grow at a rate of $33,000 a day. Children’s has disputed the total amount UMC says it is owed for rent and other services.
The seven-member panel that includes Chairman William Hanson heard from many department heads who updated them on current happenings. UMC CEO and President Jim Valenti was present during the meeting as well.
The new UMC public affairs director, Ryan Mielke, presented a communications plan to the board. Mielke said UMC is expanding its social media reach with a new Twitter and Instagram accounts. He said he wants to use the accounts to keep everyone informed.
“We are going to be more open to our community,” Mielke said, adding that UMC wants to “make sure that all of our constituents, our patients, our staff, all of El Paso understand who we are and what we’re doing.”
The panel also discussed a wage rate complaint. Board members approved notifying a subcontractor that they discussed taking action. ABC-7 was told further information could not be given when we asked if it was about the new Neighborhood Healthcare Centers.
