SWEETWATER COUNTY – A Shriners Hospitals for Children affiliation continues to get closer as the board was updated on contract talks Wednesday night.

As first announced at the November 2015 board meeting and again discussed at a recent special meeting, a partnership with Shriners is getting closer. MHSC Chief Executive Officer Jerry Klein reported they are continuing to talk and work on the contracts.

This comes on the heels of the announcement the Sweetwater County Regional Cancer Center would become a Huntsman Cancer Institute affiliate. Klein emphasized these affiliations do not mean they are owned or operated by these other institutes. He explained they provide resources and expertise in a field these organizations have a lot of experience in.

Klein said the contracts will go before the board for final approval when they are ready.

The affiliation would allow area children who are patients of Shriners to get service closer to home. Klein said they will be able to get the help through the telemedicine services at MHSC. The team at Shriner’s will be able to see and evaluate the child through telemedicine technology.

Shriner’s recently visited MHSC campus and Klein reported they were happy with the location. Klein added Shriner’s will pay for any rental space, pay for staff and it is not going to cost MHSC anything. He said the hospital is not going to make a lot of money from it either, but the important thing is it keeps area patients local.

Also available through the hospital foundation is help for families in communities close to Sweetwater County. Klein explained they will be able to stop for appointments here instead of making the extra-long journey. Through the foundation, these families will now be able to get financial help for things like lodging if their visit requires an extended stay.