Hospital gets new ambulance

-Courtesy Photo
-Courtesy Photo

By Becky Brewster

The Culberson County Hospital District met in a Special Session on April 20, 2020. Hospital Administrator Rick Gray briefed the Board on the Culberson Hospital’s response to the COVID-19, noting that they are still tracking and monitoring visitors at the entrance to the facility. He noted that eight COVID-19 tests had been administered thus far with none being positive. Gray stated that the hospital should be receiving additional face masks that they will be able to issue to the patients when they come to the hospital or clinic. Gray is in daily contact with the State of Texas, noting that the State is working to get more testing. Gray also reported that as a rural hospital, Culberson Hospital should be receiving some stimulus funding through the CARES act.

Gray also reported that the new ambulance will be delivered on April 22-25, 2020. The Board approved payment of the ambulance in full upon delivery. Once delivered, the ambulance will be sent to El Paso to be “wrapped” with the Culberson Hospital logo and to have radios installed. The new ambulance should be placed in service in early May.

Judy Blazek, Project Manager, and Kathy Potts, Architect from Rees and Associates, updated the Board on the status of the parking lot/façade improvements project. The Board decided to continue with the replacement of the natural gas line to be placed in a casing to allow future repairs without tearing up the parking lot. The Board also approved a contract with Terracon for soil and materials testing. Frontera Construction presented a cost estimate to provide canopies for a portion of the parking lot, noting that with additional engineering services, the cost would be approximately $250,000. The Board unanimously decided to pass on the canopies and to direct those funds towards the future ambulance barn. Frontera Construction reported that they may encounter some delays related to COVID-19 as the City of El Paso has implemented a requirement that if someone travels more than 100 miles from home, they have to self-quarantine for 14 days. If the problem persists, Atty. Steve Mitchell will check on exemptions for “essential” workers since construction is considered by the State to be “essential.”

In other business, the Culberson County Hospital District:

*Approved the consent agenda.

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