(Guthrie Center, IA) — Jotham Arber, the Guthrie County Director of Health Services is looking at doing more therapy in house rather than the local hospital.
Arber made his presentation at the weekly Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday and despite using the hospital for over 30 years for all types of therapy, they are increasing their rates. After consulting with the Guthrie County Board of Health, Arber wants to do physical therapy themselves while maintaining a contract with the hospital for services that they cannot provide
Arber says it is a way of controlling costs rather than a cost saving measure. He also mentions he does not want to break any relationships with the hospital and will continue to use them for Occupational and Speech Therapy. Arber also says they can take additional P/T referrals if they do things in house. Arber says they will need a budget amendment to move things to a salary and hire a new physical therapist
The Supervisors did not act immediately on Arber’s proposal but there was no opposition expressed to it.
Arber also says they are in the process of hiring a new mental health therapist and are in the process of credentialing them.
Arber also talked about immunizations in relation to the recent outbreak of measles in southern and central Iowa but says Guthrie County has 93 percent completion of vaccine series.
