Dr. Carlos Hernandez raises concerns of Hospital Advisory Board Bylaws change threatens Medical Community’s Independence
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
Local physician and newly-elected Chairman of the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center’s Advisory Board spoke during visitor’s recognition at the March 1, 2016 Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors meeting raising the local medical community’s concerns on a Bylaws change allowing two representatives of Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center voting privileges on the Advisory Board.
Dr. Hernandez stated that at a January 2016 Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Advisory Board Meeting, the Board approved unanimously to allow two employees of Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center voting privileges on the Advisory Board originally created to serve as a community oversight and supervision of hospital operations at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, a private hospital owned by Universal Health Services.
Dr. Hernandez noted that this change of bylaws occurred while he stepped out of the Board Room to answer an emergency telephone call from his office concerning a patient. Upon his return to the Board Room, the Advisory Board had already proceeded to approve the Bylaws change allowing voting privileges to Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center representatives.
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors has two representatives serving on that Advisory Board: Chairman Juan Manuel Farias and Vice-Chairman Ronald Hixson. Unfortunately, both Farias and Hixson voted to approve the Bylaws change. Farias noted that he voted for the Bylaws change because he did not hear Dr. Hernandez’s comments because he stepped out of the meeting immediately before the vote while Hixson noted that Dr. Hernandez stepped out of the meeting and he did not have the benefit of his concerns. Farias stated he voted for the Bylaws changes because there was no opposition raised before the vote, but rather after Dr. Hernandez returned.
MCHD Board of Director Ricardo E. Calderon noted that he was concerned that the District’s two representatives voted in favor of the Bylaws change without analyzing the issue more critically.
Dr. Hernandez noted that there are certain issues between the Advisory Board and the private hospital, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center. Dr. Hernandez noted that one Doctor applied for hospital privileges at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center over six months ago and has not yet received privileges. Dr. Hernandez expressed his concerns that Universal Health Services is attempting to control the medical community and this Bylaws change threatens the medical community’s independence.
Later in the March 1, 2016 MCHD Board meeting agenda, the Board approved to authorize Legal Counsel to review the Advisory Board Bylaws and the District’s agreement with Universal Health Services concerning the operation of the Advisory Board and to make a presentation to the Board with recommendations at their next meeting in March 2016.
