Details hammered out with clinic construction contractor
The board meeting of Marion County Hospital District #1 was short and sweet Tuesday evening.
Chief executive officer Jeremy Armstrong reported negotiations were continuing regarding a contract with Murray Company for remodeling the hospital's annex building, the former Prairie View location.
At the previous board meeting, the board authorized Armstrong to negotiate up to $171,000 for the project. Armstrong said he anticipated the contract to be settled in the coming days.
Dr. Linda Skiles will begin seeing patients Monday in the main hospital until the new office area is renovated.
In other business:
— Judy Reno was re-elected board chairman, Martin Tice re-elected vice-chairman, Elora Robinson re-elected secretary, and Greg Bowers re-elected treasurer.
— The board approved the expenditure of $188,000 for replacing two sections of the hospital roof. A consultant inspected the roof and provided an analysis that recommended two sections be replaced now.
— Armstrong reported that a pediatrics specialist, who was considering moving her practice to Marion, has decided to move it to Kansas City.
With that, Armstrong asked the board to consider a needs analysis to determine how many and what type of medical professionals are needed to serve residents within the Marion County hospital district.
The board agreed the analysis would be helpful. The hospital's consulting company, QHR, would provide the analysis.
— Chris Gillespie, former chief financial officer of Herington Municipal Hospital, has been hired as the clinic manager. Armstrong said Gillespie brings more than 20 years of experience to the new clinic.
Samantha Collett has been hired as the clinic nurse for Dr. Skiles.
— Hilary Dolbee, chief financial officer, presented a financial report for the month of May.
Available cash was up because accounts receivable was down, she said. She complimented the hospital's business office for "doing a good job" in collecting on accounts.
The overall financial condition of the hospital was better than last year at this time, but the district remains $462,000 in the red for the year.
Dolbee clarified that funds from cashing in a CD will be used to pay for remodeling costs, not interest earned from the CD.
After paying for a roof, remodeling of the hospital's clinic, equipment, and other expenses in opening the clinic, Dolbee advised the board that cash on hand will be at a minimum and there cannot be any more large expenditures.
With the reduction of a health care provider in the clinic, revenue projections will be lower but expenses also will be lower because there won't be the expense of a third provider, Dolbee said.
Acute care patient days had increased from previous month but remained below the number budgeted. Home health care, swing bed days, and living center census had increased.
— Debbie Craig, director of St. Luke Living Center, reported the state had conducted a survey of the facilities and four citations were issued, which have been addressed.
The state fire marshal also conducted an inspection and found four infractions which also have been addressed, Craig said.
— Chief nursing officer Linda Kannady reported four nurses had earned additional certification.
Lori Garrett and Darlene Leeds completed trauma nurse core course, and Stacey Pedersen and Brenda Larsen were PALS certified (Pediatric Advanced Life Support).
— The board entered an executive session to discuss personnel issues for 10 minutes. There were no decisions following the session.
The next regular board meeting is at 7 p.m. July 24 in the clinic basement.
