Thomason General Hospital practiced fiscal fitness in 2007, according to hospital CEO Valenti, who spoke before El Paso County Commissioners Court Monday. He has goals laid out for 2008; he also has concerns with the hospital's board.

County Commissioners on Monday heard from Thomason CEO James N. Valenti on the hospital’s financial status as well as his plans for the hospital in the upcoming year.

Valenti told the commissioners they “made history” as they were part of the leadership team who he credits for the hospital seeing its various successes.

“We have had a banner year,” he told the court of the hospital’s $39 million in positive earnings over the past fiscal year. “Our goal is to exceed El Pasoans’ expectations.

He also laid out several goals he has set for the hospital to reach in 2008: convert R.E. Thomason General Hospital to a university medical center, see the opening of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and the voter-approved Children’s Hospital, and the establishment of a hospital foundation.

Because of last year’s positive earnings, Valenti said the institution would be able to meet another three expansion goals: recruit more physicians and nurses, repair the hospital’s 50-year-old building and expand services, and provide care to more El Pasoans.

“We’ve got an action-packed 08,” he said.

Aside from the fiscal health of the hospital, Commissioner Dan Haggerty was concerned with the political side of the institution, namely the upcoming appointments of members to the hospital’s board of directors. It was an issue that also concerned County Judge Anthony Cobos, who said he does not want to have people coming into his office lobbying for potential appointees, as he would like to see special interests and “the status quo” kept out the appointment process. He suggested having the board elected by voters instead of being appointed by the court.

However, Commissioner Veronica Escobar disagreed with Cobos, saying she would like to welcome members of the public to come to her with suggestions.

“Anyone who would like to advise me, I encourage it,” she said.

She also stated she would not support having the board elected rather than appointed.

“I don’t see any wisdom in that,” she said. “We have to do the right thing as commissioners and appoint stellar individuals. That’s part of our charge as commissioners.”

Valenti pointed out that there are currently two members of the seven-member board who have not signed the county’s ethics pledge, and he says that lack of commitment is taken into account during bond and credit ratings, which could hurt the positive strides the hospital has made in the last few years.

Speaking outside the court chambers, Escobar commended Valenti’s work.

“He turned around an institution that many predicted would have closed its doors in 2006,” she said. “He expanded services, created a much more positive image, and brought in more private pay citizens."