Feasibility study confirms need for physician
Sports reporter
St. Luke Hospital administrator Jeremy Armstrong and the Marion Co. Hospital District #1 board determined July 24 at their regular meeting the need for a new physician.
A feasibility study was conducted, and the results showed the hospital is in need of .5 doctors. In other words, one more full-time physician will put the hospital right where it needs to be in terms of doctor to patient ratio.
Now that it has been determined a physician is needed, Armstrong said the board is "keeping all of our options open."
The main options would be for current Marion Family Physicians doctor Don Hodson to recruit someone, or the hospital could hire a headhunter to find another physician.
Armstrong said that while not cheap, ranging from $20-25,000, the headhunters guarantee they will have someone in the door.
The board determined if it were to hire a headhunter there would be a contingency that the fee only would be paid once the hire is made. They also will conduct a second search for free if the hired person does not stay for an allotted amount of time.
Armstrong said whichever way they go, the candidates will go through the same interview processes before being hired.
In other news:
— Armstrong welcomed new hospital doctor Linda Skiles with a "big thank you." Skiles said she has been appreciative of everyone's kindness and effort to make her feel at home at the hospital.
— Armstrong reported the clinic is "doing well" in its third week.
— Armstrong also reported plans for the inside re-modeling of the hospital are being drawn up, and the hospital is looking for local contractors. "Anyone is welcome to bid for it," he said. The hospital will save some money because there already are data phone lines running in every room.
— A new scheduling software program has been installed and is currently in use.
— Specs are being drawn for the hospital's roofing project. Armstrong said because of weather delays the project may have to be pushed back to next spring.
— The hospital will have an employee picnic Aug. 18 at Marion County Park and Lake.
— Debbie Craig, director of St. Luke Living Center, reported the long term care unit lost a resident this past month, but has already filled the spot. She also reported Alysha O'Dell has come back to volunteer on the weekends. O'Dell worked at the unit before leaving for school.
— Hospital CFO Hilary Dolbee reported the hospital's net operating income for the month was negative $80,378. The net income after taxes was $5,805.
Dolbee also reported an EKG machine was purchased for about $6,300 of which $5,400 will be paid for with money raised during the Dinky Duck race at Chingawassa Days. The remaining $900 was given by St. Luke Foundation.
— The board gave Dolbee approval to have a public notice published in the Marion County Record stating the district's mill levy remain at or near the same current operating level.
— Dolbee reported ER visits were down 12 from the previous month with 101. The hospital census also was down, however the living center, home health care, and out-patient numbers had increased.
