Armstrong selected as chief officer at hospital
Staff reporter
Following a 30-minute executive session, Jeremy Armstrong of North Dakota was selected Jan. 24 to be chief executive officer of St. Luke Hospital, Living Center, and Home Health Care.
Armstrong was one of two final candidates who visited Marion this past week and participated in final interviews with board members and hospital staff.
In other business:
New hospital equipment will be purchased through an agreement with Marion National Bank.
The board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 approved an agreement to finance the purchase of a CT scanner and nuclear medicine equipment.
The equipment is being purchased from G.E. The company offered to finance the purchases but required a $200,000 down payment.
Marion National Bank's proposal was $150,000 down payment and the loan having a 4.69 percent interest rate, the same as G.E.
With the down payment, monthly payments will be reduced. Funds for the down payment will be drawn from the hospital's reserve fund.
The equipment will be ordered when the company receives a 20 percent payment and delivered in the coming weeks.
Joe Pickett, director of radiology, reported space issues regarding the placement of nuclear medicine equipment have been resolved.
An extra foot of space was required for the equipment. Two feet of unused space in the room where the CT scanner is located was determined to be feasible for the space dilemma.
Picket also reported there may be a need to change the direction of a door in the nuclear medicine room, so the door swings out of the room instead of in.
— Gene Winkler, board chairman, reported election of board members during this year's city elections was not possible.
If the hospital district wanted to follow city elections, there would be some expense for the district because not all areas of the district would participate in city elections.
Previously, elections of board members were held at the district's annual meetings in May. With a larger board membership and wanting more involvement from constituents, the board wanted formal elections.
Board members Judy Reno and Peggy Blackman, who comprise the bylaws committee, will look at various options and report at a later date.
Elections for board members will be held this year at the annual meeting. Board positions of Winkler and Greg Bowers are up for election.
— Survey results were reviewed by the board. Results will be released to department supervisors and the public at a later date.
— Interim CEO Emmett Schuster reported there was a physician being recruited from Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, but Schuster was unable to make contact with him. Another physician also was being pursued.
— In Schuster's monthly report, weekend emergency room coverage was working well. More scheduling was needed.
A consultant from QHR, the district's management consultant, will work with Marion County Home Health Care.
Hospital staff is preparing for a "mock" Medicare survey in preparation for an inspection from the agency. The last Medicare survey at the hospital was 2001. St. Luke Living Center has one annually, and home health care every three years.
Options are being explored regarding repair to the hospital's dishwasher.
Debbie Craig, director of the living center, recently attended a seminar regarding prescription drug programs. She shared the information with residents and families.
— Nursing director Linda Kannady reported the hospital recently was awarded a bio-terrorism grant for $19,500.
— Vouchers for $73,151 for the last of December and $64,430 for the first part of January were approved.
The next hospital district meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in the clinic basement.
