Report on affiliation tops hospital session

A report on Carson-Tahoe Hospital's proposed affiliation with another health care entity is slated for Thursday's Board of Trustees meeting.

Potential affiliates Triad, Sutter and Universal Health Services Inc. are examining Carson-Tahoe's detailed financial records this week.

The three groups are expected to submit proposals by Sept. 29, signaling the beginning of a period of serious scrutiny by a number of entities, including the public.

Consultants Kauffman Hall and Associates will first study proposals before they are submitted to the affiliation committee. That committee will make recommendations to the hospital Board of Trustees around the middle of October, and proposals should also be presented to the public about that time.

The final step: submitting those proposals deemed acceptable to Carson City's Board of Supervisors for approval.

Carson-Tahoe Hospital's marketing director Richard Linkul said that residents, employees and physicians should realize there have been no solid proposals so far.

"We're pleased with the progress (of the affiliation process), and we wish we had all the answers," Linkul said, noting the hospital may choose affiliation of any kind, but there could still be changes.

"In the future, because of dynamics of the (medical) industry and growth, we're going to have to do business differently to meet the community's needs," Linkul said.

The Nevada population projections estimates a growth rate at 50 percent, to a population base of 250,000 in the Lyon-Carson-Douglas County areas over the next 10 years. The corridor along U.S. 50 East, as well as Douglas County, are projected to grow to 60,000 people each, while Carson City is expected to grow from it's current population of about 50,000 to 60,000.

That, combined with the reduced rate of government reimbursement to the hospital and the federal mandates that must be met concerning the hospital's compliance with federal standards, will influence fiscal policies in the future.

In other business:

- The Finance Committee will consider a proposed retention program for Carson-Tahoe Hospital's management should it engage in an affiliation process to encourage those in top management positions to stay rather than take positions elsewhere. The Carson-Tahoe Hospital Employees Association has included a request for employee retirement funding.

This proposal would give administrators and directors a one-year severance package and outplacement services. They would also receive a 15 percent retention bonus when a decision is made by the board as to whether the hospital affiliates or by March 1, 2001, whichever comes first. The affiliate would also buy a minimum of five years of pension credit for every administrator and director.

Under the association's proposal, employees with five years or more vested in the Public Employees Retirement System would receive five years purchased for each eligible retirement account, and all current employees would have an amount equal to the value of their present retirement account placed in a 401(k), excluding the years purchased.

- A report on the Andersen field, a 7.8 acre pasture just north of the hospital on Mountain Street. Owner Ira "Andy" Andersen has offered to either lease back or sell this parcel to the hospital. The hospital, together with Andersen, has hired land planning consultant George L. Szabo and engineer Mark Palmer to gather comments from neighbors concerning the project.

What: Carson-Tahoe Hospital meetings of the Building Committee, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees

When: Today. The Building Committee convenes at 5:10 p.m., Finance Committee at 6:15 p.m. and the Board of Trustees at 7:55 p.m. All times are approximate.

Where: Pinon Plaza, Juniper Room, 2171 U.S. 50 East