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John Cook

Former El Paso Mayor John Cook said the decision by University Medical Center to privatize its anesthesia services will have a disastrous effect on the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

Cook said he heard that UMC may have had some concerns about the administration of the anesthesiology program at Texas Tech, but that these concerns were being addressed.

"Privatization of these services is a dangerous step," Cook said. "I believe it's not too late. This development could ruin the reputation of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. We need to grow the school, not shrink it."

Cook, who spoke before the UMC board on the issue, said an independent third-party arbitrator needs to brings UMC and Texas Tech together to work out any differences that led to the non-renewal of the anesthesia contract with Texas Tech.

Cook said the school of medicine is one of the strategic building blocks for El Paso's economic prosperity in the future, in addition to enhanced health care for the community. The other building blocks include UMC, Texas Tech, the new school of nursing, the El Paso Children's Hospital, and the health education partnerships with El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso.

Dr. Gabor Racz, who helped set up the anesthesiology system at TTUHSC-El Paso, said, "I believe it's a huge error which I find very disappointing. Saving money now could lead to preventable deaths in the future. This is not an area (anesthesiology) where you want to cut corners."

Racz, who is based at Texas Tech in Lubbock, said he is voicing his opinion as a medical expert and not on behalf of the university. "I read about what happened, and I felt compelled to advise against this move," Racz said.

University Medical Center officials refused to release bid documents for the top four anesthesia services contract proposals that UMC's board of managers considered before selecting New York-based Somnia Inc. over Texas Tech.

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Ex-El Paso mayor: UMC non-renewal of Texas Tech anesthesia contract will have disastrous effect