Meet the Board
Representing District 4 (Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Wickenburg, Youngtown)
District 4 Map
Term of Office: 2010 - 2014 
Residence: Wickenburg
Profession: Retired
Email: elbert.bicknell@mihs.org
Hobbies/interests: Family, reading, politics, and writing to assure our Constitution is followed and our Bill of Rights are kept intact.
Local/National Professional Memberships: Mr. Bicknell is Past President of Gun-Owners of New Hampshire, Pro-Gun New Hampshire, and a life member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun-Owners of America. He is a member of the leaders Club for Heritage Foundation, and on the leadership council of Az. Citizens Defense League and member of the Madison Society Foundation.
What is your vision for the Maricopa County Special Health Care District? To provide safe, comprehensive, compassionate health care to all patients through strong leadership, education, innovation and accountability. In order for our hospital and clinics to function properly, we must give the entire staff the same understanding and commitment we give to our patients. Then and only then can MIHS become a nationally recognized leader in the health care community.
What do you feel are some issues facing the District and how would you resolve them? I see a need for more non-emergency care clinics, such as urgent care. I also believe we should be doing a better job of retaining not only doctors, but nurses and technicians as well. I would most urgently like to lower taxes citizens of the County pay toward the cost of maintaining MIHS. I would rely more on paying patients and reimbursements from other sources. We should be consulting with and joining with other “safety net” hospitals in assisting in the care of all citizens of Maricopa County. In addition, I would do everything in the hospital’s power to make sure that all bills due are collected from all patients that take advantage of the services rendered.
I also would like to pursue dually accrediting some of our residency programs. This would be a way of increasing the flow of applicants to the hospital. Further I would work very closely with our Legislators who would assist Arizona in retaining and gaining doctors and nurses, in particular, in the ER and if this means new laws then I would be amendable toward that end.
What would you like the public to know about your background? I have a long history of civic engagement. I am a retired law enforcement officer who worked as a state trooper in New Hampshire and as a Detective Sergeant in Vermont. I also served four years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives; chaired Sullivan County Mental Health; and also was Chairman of the Deerfield New Hampshire Budget Committee. In Vermont, I began New Beginnings of Springfield, a domestic abuse referral agency, and served on the Vermont child protection team. A graduate of Nashua Business College, I also have been a small business owner and have been married for 32 years.
To schedule time to meet with any one of the Board of Directors please contact the Executive Director of Board Operations, Melanie Talbot at 602-344-5177 or at melanie.talbot@mihs.org and she will be happy to assist you.
District Cities
Last updated on June 28, 2012