epcounty.com - Commissioner Precinct 2

El Paso County Commissioner Pct. 2
Veronica Escobar

County to let voters decide on children's hospital
By Erica Molina Johnson / El Paso Times
El Paso Times

El Paso voters will get to decide this November whether to fund the construction of a separately licensed children's hospital at Thomason Hospital.
County Commissioners Court voted unanimously during a special meeting on Thursday to place the $120 million proposal on the ballot.
"I can't stop smiling," Commissioner Veronica Escobar told the crowd of about 100 just before the vote. "I feel so lucky to do this one thing, to put this on the ballot and let the people vote on the people's hospital."
Commissioners Court heard from hospital officials, impassioned parents, children and the business community for more than two hours.
"I am going to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for a few weeks August 22," Kyle Cox, 11, told commissioners.
Flanked by his mother and his helper dog, Kyle described his frequent trips for treatment of his Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"It's hard to travel. It's hard to keep up with school when I am gone so much."
The proposed $120 million hospital would be able to pay for its own operating costs once it opens, hospital officials said.
It would be completely separate from Thomason with its own board, departments, contracts and services, said Dennece Knight, director of the Thomason Health Foundation and the children's hospital project director. The only shared areas would be dietary, housekeeping and maintenance.
If the construction is approved, the impact on a $100,000 home would be about $2.38 per month or about $30 per year in the first year, and this is expected to decline, hospital officials said. If approved, the hospital district would provide $30 million to help the children's hospital get off the ground, paying for items such as salaries and recruiting.
Thomason Hospital CEO Jim Valenti said the money would be reimbursed as the children's hospital began operations. He also said the children's hospital would lease the space from Thomason.
Officials said a children's hospital at Thomason and affiliated with Texas Tech would attract much-needed pediatric subspecialists.
"A project like this comes along once in a generation," County Judge Anthony Cobos said.
Opposition from supporters of the Children's Hospital at Providence did not sign up to speak at Thursday's meeting, though they have addressed the court at previous meetings in the last several months with the argument that a children's hospital is an unnecessary expense and duplication of services already offered at Providence Memorial Hospital.
"To the naysayers out there, please do not help derail this project. Help us make this a reality," Commissioner Luis Sariñana said before the vote.
He said he will do everything possible to convey the importance of the project.
"I have all the confidence in the world (the voters) will say yes," Sariñana said.
The court erupted in applause after the approval.
"It's indescribable how happy I am," said Thomason board member Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, a pediatrician who has pushed for a local children's hospital for decades. "We need it so bad. Doctors before me fought for it. I never thought it -- I didn't want to give up."
He was near tears as he spoke about the need for the hospital.
"Without the good health of our kids, where would we be," he said.
He said the first two major hurdles for the project have been cleared: the approval by the board and then by the court.
"Now it gets real busy. Now comes the education," he said.
Commissioner Miguel Terán said he supported the plan.
"I was convinced when I was born (because) I was a preemie myself," he said. "I'd like to caution not to take this for granted.
Don't think just because we all in this room seem to be in agreement, the whole world is in agreement, too."
The election will be Nov. 6.
"If they (the voters) do want one, we're going to give it to them," Thomason board of managers Chairman Ron Acton said.

Erica Molina Johnson may be reached at emolina@elpasotimes.com; 546-6132.