By BRENDA TENBOER
The South Big Horn County Hospital District board of trustees met last Thursday and with a vote of four ayes and one opposed took a unique step for a health care facility in Wyoming.
Physician’s assistant Heather Sanders recently returned from an aesthetic conference with recommendations to purchase equipment so she may begin performing some of the procedures here.
Hospital administrator Jackie Claudson supports the strategic move from a business standpoint saying she has thoroughly researched the possibilities and believes the minimal investment of $60,000 would pay for itself in one to two years time.
“We know we have people here that travel to Billings to get laser skin treatments, some even travel to California,” she said.
The procedures are relatively easy, do not affect the cost of liability insurance for the facility and are not offered by any other clinic in the Big Horn Basin.
Sanders said she is comfortable using the laser to even out skin tone, minimize small wrinkles and treat acne.
Claudson did admit there is some financial risk to the venture, but also said she feels the new procedures are a revenue maker even in poor economic times.
“This is something that is not big money, I spend three times this amount on payroll each month,” she said.
Board member Bill Burbridge of Greybull was the lone opposed vote saying cosmetic procedures are a far cry from the goals of the hospital when it re-opened as a critical access facility.
“I’d rather see money invested in medical equipment,” Burbridge said. “We are here because we can save lives. Is this really the best way to spend $60-$90,000?”
Member Dallin Winters of Burlington said he felt as long as the purchase wasn’t taking the place of purchasing lifesaving equipment that the hospital board needs to consider the business aspect.
Board Chairman Diana Elliott of Basin said she had full confidence in Claudson’s business decisions.
Burbridge, at the end of the discussion, said the board should not be “pennywise and dollar foolish. If you’re going to get this thing, then get everything you need to make it work,” he said.
Board member Jack Preston of Basin made the motion to use mill-levy funds to purchase roughly $85,000 worth of equipment including a Syneron IPL Elight laser and two additional applicators for $76,000.
Sanders said because she is specially trained, a purchase discount on the equipment does apply but the exact figures were not available. The purchase includes marketing support, a three-year warranty and onsite training.
The laser and applicators allow for hair removal, skin rejuvenation and acne treatment.
“Skin rejuvenation includes removing red spots, evening skin tone and small wrinkles,” Sanders said.
Microdermabrasion equipment will complete the purchase with a price tag of $3,000-$10,000.
Claudson said she based her feasibility research on the conservative figure of 100 patients of a patient base of 6,000 using the new services the first year, typically for two to three sessions at a treatment cost of $75 to $100.
Providers in Billings are charging up to $175 a visit for similar services, according to Sanders.
If the services prove to be in demand, other procedures can be made available in the future, Sanders said. The laser can help with stretch marks.
“They are not huge changes, but some people are quite happy with subtle changes,” she said. “It can make a big difference.”
Claudson said she is planning to have information available to the public about the new laser treatments and microdermabrasion at the annual health fair.