A wireless communication system to link local doctor clinics with Wallowa Memorial Hospital was approved last Monday morning by the Wallowa County Health Care District board. To be installed at a cost of $12,372, hospital CEO Larry Davy described the technology update as “inching into the modern world.” One impact of the update will be to allow doctors from clinics in Wallowa, Joseph and Enterprise to write out prescriptions and, if they choose to do so, have them electronically sent to the hospital.

Hospital administrative assistant Kathleen Negus said that $5,200 of the expenditure will be spent to increase security with an improved computer firewall.

In other business at the morning meeting the board approved the purchase of a new $228,000 ultrasound machine for the radiology department. The machine it replaces is five years old.

Some discussion was held concerning the proposed new hospital. Though the board has still to take official action to go ahead with the $14 million project, Enterprise lawyer Bill Kirby was named as the new hospital’s official attorney.

A public meeting to discuss the reason for and the ramifications of a new hospital was set for noon on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Cloverleaf Hall. Davy, who is still waiting for the third and final feasibility study being conducted by a Spokane accounting firm, said the preliminary numbers from the study are “better than we thought.” Discussion included the selection of a project manager, but no decisions were reached.

The resignation of board member Bruce Penoske was approved effective Jan. 1. Penoske expressed his full support of the new hospital venture, but has been on the board 10 years and decided he needed additional time to dedicate to his position as CEO of Community Bank.