Dear Editor:
As a emergency room doctor at the local hospital, I see every day how important all financial resources are to providing timely, high-quality emergency care.
Later this year, PSMC will begin a vital renovation of our Pagosa Springs Medical Center Emergency Department to improve safety and efficiency. A portion of this project is funded through a $150,000 state grant. Grants like this allow our small rural hospital to make improvements that would otherwise be difficult to fund.
This is one reason Ballot Question 7B matters. If voters approve 7B, PSMC can continue operating as it does today, with the flexibility to pursue and accept grants that support our local healthcare. A NO vote could require PSMC to limit grants in the future to maintain its enterprise status.
7B does not raise taxes, or impose a new tax. It allows PSMC to continue using the resources available to strengthen emergency care and keep healthcare local.
I encourage you to vote YES for 7B.
Dr. Jared Halterman, DO
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