(La Junta, CO) -- Furthering discussion on what's happening at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta, CEO Andy Flemer wants everyone to come and hear the positive news of what's happening there and reinforced that the hospital is not closing.
Flemer invited the community to a Town Hall meeting planned for Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm at the hospital. He made the announcement to the La Junta Chamber of Commerce and the Business, Lunch, Talks group.
Last month Flemer announced that the OB/GYN unit would close in April after careful thought to save other services at the hospital. The obstetric/gynecology unit was at a loss of $200,000 a month. Since then, several mayors in Southeast Colorado have reached out to Governor Jared Polis, State Representatives and State Senators to see if something could be done ahead of the April 30th closure planned for this spring.
Flemer expressed concern that his hospital isn't alone in rural areas. "We are significantly underpaid by the Colorado Medicaid Program." He added that Medicaid patients are always welcome at AVRMC and said his Emergency Department is one of the busiest in Southeast Colorado and the Eastern plains seeing more 50 patients a day, at times.
Flemer previewed Tuesday Night's Town Hall Meeting that they would share positive news of what the hospital has to offer. "We are very well supported,"
Flemer finished by proudly explaining the hospital has specialists in nearly every field. He encouraged everyone to come and listen and ask questions. He also said he would be asking the community for a take away to contact lawmakers and tell them what needs to happen and how they need to vote to save rural hospitals' specialty units like the Obstetrics/Gynecology unit.
"We are one of the most robust, critical access hospitals in the entire state, and we want to keep it that way."
Light refreshments will be served at the Town Hall on Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm.
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related content: https://www.coloradonewsyourway.com/post/babies-happen-now-what-more-talk-on-the-ob-unit-closure-in-la-junta
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