Worried about the future of the Schuylkill Medical Center, hospital employees asked the Schuylkill County commissioners Wednesday to help them get some answers.
“I’m here because we are concerned and have many questions about our health care system and how it is going forward and what it is going to look like, not only when our new partner takes over, which we welcome 100 percent, but after that,” Brian Symons, cook and chapter president of Service Employees International Union Health of Pennsylvania, said.
Hospital officials announced in November 2014 their intentions to form a business partnership with another regional hospital system. In April 2015, officials announced their plan to integrate its two campuses.
Last September, the Pottsville Hospital Authority reproved a request by Schuylkill Health to borrow up to $20 million in bonds for the project.
“As a community, we need to have a say with how our hospital is going to be shaped in the future,” Symons said. “Our goals are the same as the hospital. We want to provide the best care for our patients and to our community.”
The commissioners then met with Symons and the other employees later that afternoon.
“My response to them was that the board at the hospital are good people,” commissioners Chairman George Halcovage said. “They are some of the top community leaders that we have and I know their goal is to make sure quality health care is provided in the community long term.”
Halcovage, who is also chairman of the Pottsville Hospital Authority, said there is likely confidently involved current negotiations and that the board shares the employees’ goals of ensuring quality care. He compared the hospital’s transition to the county’s sale of Rest Haven last year.
“We had good quality health care there on a long-term basis and we wanted it to be a win/win/win situation and we believe that happened — a win for residents, a win for employees and a win for the community. I want this to be a win/win/win for everyone.”
“The hospital is a very important part of health care in this area,” Commissioner Gary J. Hess said. “Like we said about Rest Haven, it is not just a building or business, it is a living, breathing thing and we need to do what is best for our citizens and health care. We definitely would like to sit down and listen to your concerns and pass them on.”
Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier, who is chairman of the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, had a meeting in Pittsburgh and was not at the meeting Wednesday.
In other news, the county will be seeking proposals for banking services.
County Treasurer Linda Marchalk announced the request for proposal Wednesday. She said M&T Bank manages about 70 county bank accounts, averaging about $44 million.
“With the combination of budgetary challenges in the public sector, low market rates and narrowing investment opportunities caused by bank-related regulatory changes, it is necessary to maximize the value of the county’s operating funds for the benefit of taxpayers. I want to thank the commissioners, elected officials and department heads for their cooperation with this endeavor,” Marchalk said.
Marchalk said that she and deputy treasurer Diana Bashinsky have met with banking officials to optimize operating fund structures and eliminate paper processing in favor of electronic options. They have also established a banking cost analysis for the county’s existing accounts to review service charges in earnings regarding earnings credits on the funds.
“As treasurer, I feel the county should always look for opportunities to improve efficiency and lower transaction costs and we are looking to implement the necessary steps to minimize banking costs, improve operational efficiency and maximize investment capabilities,” Marchalk said.
She said the request for proposal will be issued Wednesday.
The county has also applied for a grant to reimburse some of the expenses paid for court interpreters.
District Court Administrator Lois A. Wallauer said the state legislature made $1.5 million available to help counties defray costs. The county’s grant application is seeking 30 reimbursement of 2015 costs, which totaled $20,226.92.