Architect to determine costs for new hospital
Staff writer
Applications for the chief financial officer position at St. Luke Hospital are closed to new applicants.
Jeremy Armstrong, St. Luke Hospital administrator reported Aug. 26 to the board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 that Armstrong and QHR, the hospital’s management consulting company, will interview the three top candidates.
Board member Judy Reno said she would prefer that the board be included with interview process of candidates. Armstrong responded that the board could be included but noted there would be additional costs to the board for transportation of candidates to Marion. Otherwise, the candidates would be transported to the QHR office in Kansas City for interviews.
Board members agreed it was a good idea to include them with the interviews which was the method used in hiring Armstrong and the previous CFO.
In other business:
- Architects and engineers will meet with hospital staff regarding a new hospital. Armstrong said he was anxious to see the plan. “Costs are going to have a profound effect on the project,” he said.
- Armstrong reported there were 63 new patients seen at St. Luke Physician Clinic in June which means they had not previously used the hospital services.
- Kansas Department of Health & Environment was granted an exception to conduct an initial survey at the clinic so the facility can be certified as a rural health clinic. An initial survey was conducted. Cost-base reimbursement will begin after the return survey.
- Chief nursing officer Linda Kannady reported another nurse will be hired to replace Kristin Garman who resigned to accept a school nurse position.
- The board and Armstrong entered into a 30-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
- The next hospital board meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the clinic basement.