07/23/15  Dallas County Hospital Administrator Says His Goodbyes

 

Dallas County Medical Center Administrator John Tucker said his goodbyes to the members of the Dallas County Quorum Court on Tuesday night.  Tucker has accepted a job at a larger hospital in Tripoli, Colorado and will be leaving Fordyce early next month.

In his report to the quorum court, Tucker advised board members to keep abreast of legislation that is being advanced by a long-standing leader on rural healthcare issues, Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa.  The Rural Emergency Hospital legislation would establish another payment designation from Medicare, and likely mirrored by Medicaid, and allow rural hospitals to close their inpatient beds while retaining the ability to provide emergency care and ancillary services and testing.  Facilities would be required to also provide observation care not to exceed 24 hours and have protocols in place for the timely transfer of patients requiring a higher level of care.  Hospitals would be reimbursed 110 percent of reasonable costs.

Tucker also reported that Dr. Payne has signed his employment agreement and plans to expand the clinic have been finalized.  Tucker said they're working as quickly as possible to get the construction project started.