The election will take place at 7 p.m. at the Cortez Conference Center (Koko’s) at the Cortez Holiday Inn during SHS’s annual meeting. To participate in the election, voters must attend the meeting, be at least 18 years old and be a resident or a taxpayer in the county. Results will be tallied at the close of the meeting, with the three top vote getters earning seats. Officers for chair, vice chair and secretary will also be chosen at the meeting.

Whatcott hails from Scottsdale, Ariz., where she had 19 years of experience in health-care administration. She hopes to contribute that expertise as an SHS board member in Montezuma County, and is looking forward to getting more involved in the community.

"As an administrator I worked very closely with the doctors, anesthesiologists and hospital staff, plus for years I worked as a scrub tech in the operating room so I am familiar with the field," Whatcott said. "I have the time and energy for this position. My husband has a lot of family up here so we moved to the area and I really love it. Basically I want to contribute my experience to this hospital; I really feel obligated to do this."

Whatcott emphasized the importance of keeping up to date on regulations and insurance regarding the health-care field in order to keep Southwest a viable and financially stable facility.

Hatter, an SHS boardmember for the past year, wants to continue with her extensive involvement with SHS. Besides preparing for and surviving through monthly meetings that can last five hours or more, Hatter also sits on various committees of the board, including community relations, finance and investments, the Southwest Memorial Foundation, Southwest’s website and the hospital’s continuing quality improvement council.

"I am running again because when I first got involved there was so much contradictory information and I was very concerned about the hospital being able to maintain the services that are available," said Hatter, who has 16 years of experience in the finance industry. "We are really still at a crossroads, and there are many things that still need to be done. So I would like to continue maintaining that level of involvement."

Henneman has also been very committed to the SHS board, and has been a member since the board’s inception in 1996. Throughout that time, he has gained experience in health-care politics, and has shown a knack for diplomacy during controversial times involving SHS and its partner, the Montezuma County Hospital District board.

"Our relationship now with MCHD board is working well and I think that our cooperation has been good," Henneman said. "I feel like we are making good progress, so in order to continue that, I felt it was important to run again."

Henneman said that he has learned "a great deal" as a board member, especially regarding the effects that the Balanced Budget Act has had on hospitals and health care across the country. He cited Southwest’s high score of 97 (out of 100) on the Joint Commission of Hospital Accreditation survey as proof of Southwest’s viability and its committed employees..

"That survey reflected the effort that the employees have put into this community hospital and all of its progress," he said. "Also, as a board member I would continue keeping the public advised of what is going on."

Henneman has 28 years of business experience.

SHS board chair Walt Henes was not available for comment. Henes was elected to the board in 1997 and elected chairman in 1998. According to a SHS profile, Henes brings to the board strong business and interpersonal skills.

Henes believes the greatest challenges facing U.S. healthcare are the ability of hospitals to expend resources in a balanced way that covers the community’s healthcare needs, according to the profile.