Julia Biesemeier promoted to COO at Haxtun Health

The Haxtun Health Board of Directors selected a concrete company to move forward with a project to replace three parking lots at the main hospital campus. The Board of Directors voted, on Aug. 26, to go with L.E.C. Construction out of Greeley to begin the first of three phases to replace the north, south and emergency room parking lots at the main hospital campus.

In addition to that vote by the Board, Chief Executive Office Dewane Pace announced the promotion of Julia Biesemeier to Chief Operating Officer as well as provided important updates on the projected opening of the main street clinic, set for just two months from now.

Pace said, in detail, that for parking lot project, the hospital was required to post a request for proposal in the local paper, hold an informational meeting open to the public and interested contractors and then review bids, as required by all special districts. He said all of that was done and all special district requirements were met.

"We are not required to accept the lowest bid, just have to have an open opportunity for prospective contractors," said Pace. "We look forward to moving forward with a much-needed new parking lot."

The plan, according to the CEO, is to replace the three asphalt parking lots with concrete, similar to the community center parking lot. The job will consist of three phases including phase one with the front or south parking lot, phase two being the emergency room parking lot and phase three finishing with the north or back parking lot.

"Each phase will happen as funding allows. There will be significantly less traffic and parking on the main hospital campus once the main street clinic opens," he said. "We estimate 10,000 less visits to the hospital campus per year."

L.E.C. Construction, of Greeley, recently competed the concrete work at the new Haxtun Swimming Pool.

Construction on the main street clinic, Pace said, is in the final stages and as it winds down, the logistical planning is ramping up. Each of the clinic areas, clinic, rehab and retail pharmacy, are working out how they will stay open as long as possible in their current locations and then re-open at the new site on Monday, Nov. 4.

"The plan is to move as much equipment as possible into the new space in advance of the move, close the departments on Saturday, Nov. 3, move over the weekend and be ready for patients on Monday morning, Nov. 4," said Pace. "Movers have been scheduled, IT and telecommunication plans are being finalized and we are working out the details of what the corner food and beverage operations will be."

He said initially Haxtun Health plans to offer simple, grab-and-go health food and beverage options. "We do not want to compete with existing retail food establishments, just offer something simple," Pace said.

Additionally, Pace announced the promotion of Biesemeier to Chief Operating Officer. She previously served as the Chief Community Relations Officer.

Pace said that Andrew Gonzales was the COO for Haxtun Health and recently left to fill a position in West Point, Neb. With his exit, the position for COO was posted, resumes received, interviews conducted and Biesemeier was selected to fill the role.

"Her role of CCRO will not be replaced, resulting in a smaller senior leadership team and salary savings for the hospital," Pace said. "Julia is a dedicated member of the Haxtun Health team and has been since 2018. Julia's deep-rooted commitment to our community and organization is evident in her impressive track record. Her recent Masters of Health Care Transformation degree from the University of Texas further equips her to excel in this new role."

In other business:

• Chief Nursing Officer Lea White said one registered nurse night shift is open as well as two certified nurses aide positions;

• She added that the Extended Care Unit census is 16.