There was some significant medical provider related news that came out at last week’s Yuma District Hospital Board of Directors monthly meeting.
Board President Mitch Korf and board members Monica King, Delaina Klein and Liz Hickman were in attendance. Mark Werts was absent.
CEO Anne Kreutzer told the board that Dr. Caitlin Ahern has announced she will retire sometime in 2026. She first started in Yuma many years ago, moved back to the Front Range, but then came back to do hours at the Akron Clinic.
She also announced that Dr. Daniel Edmondson will be leaving the hospital district, taking a job in Colorado Springs to be closer to his family of four children. Kreutzer said he is leaving reluctantly and still would like to do a monthly colonoscopy clinic here. He joined Yuma Hospital & Clinics in 2022.
On the flip side,
Kreutzer told the board Nurse Practitioner Melissa Kriley will start seeing patients on January 6. She said the district also has interviews this month with a physician to potentially have hours at the Akron Clinic, a family practice provider and others.
While on the topic of the medical staff, the board unanimously approved the new appointments for Michael DiMaria, MD, pediatric cardiology,and Vanessa Sanders, MR, radiology, as well as the reappointments for Alistair Jordan, MD, radiology, and Paul Johnson, MD, radiology.
The board also held a discussion about board appointments. A recent board training highlighted that the board ultimately is responsible.
The 2026 budget was presented and approved by the board. Financial Officer Mark Roberts also presented the November financial report. Revenue was down compared to October, but the district still had a net income of $339,000. Kreutzer further explained in-patient days are down. She said the hospital is better managing length of stays, so there is not as many in-patient days.
Ted Beckman, vice president of medical services, gave an update on the hospital district’s marketing campaign. The report focused on the first five months of the district’s new website, which is receiving considerable amount of visits. The goal is to be the first on the list when one online searches for medical services in this region.
Kreutzer told the board about a new rule beginning January 1 for the 340B Program. It allows for the hospital district to purchase pharmaceuticals at a reduced price, and provide a card to certain certain patients to get a reduced price on prescriptions. The new rule stipulates the cards must go to patients who do not have insurance for prescriptions, or meet the hospital’s discount program based on income.
The board was informed there were 44 MRI procedures on the new machine in November, and patients are reporting a comfortable and calm experience.
Korf publicly acknowledged the efforts of the Yuma Hospital Foundation, particularly in regards to the fund-raising golf tournament held earlier this year, and the recent Parade of Homes.
The board’s next regular meeting will be Wednesday, January 28, at 5:30 p.m.