The board’s four incumbent members say the training is important for educating board members with no healthcare management experience and that governing a hospital requires expansive knowledge, according to the report.
The three challengers to the incumbents say they will not take expensive education and training trips to luxury hotels if elected.
The incumbents attend an annual training provided by Colorado-based Estes Park Institute, a session that costs $1,695 per person for registration and $475 a night for lodging.
Read the Billings Gazette report about West Park Hospital’s board member travel.
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