Hospital finance officer offered additional benefits by board
Staff reporter
Following an executive session Thursday evening during a Marion County Hospital District #1 board meeting, Kevin Cronkleton was offered three months of health insurance and a $5,000 moving allowance if he accepts the position of St. Luke Hospital Chief Financial Officer.
Previously the board offered Cronkleton the position with negotiations resulting in the additions.
Health insurance is not provided to hospital personnel during the first three months of employment. Since Cronkleton is a current employee, the three-month insurance coverage was offered. Cronkleton is a BannerSystems employee until the hospital district takes over operation of the hospital and living center Oct. 1.
Moving expenses are available to Cronkleton if he moves within six months of Oct. 1.
Cronkleton has not accepted the offers from the board.
More decisions were made and money spent by the board in preparation for the Oct. 1 transition.
The board approved a proposal from CPSI, the hospital's current technical support contractor, as the hospital's Internet service provider.
The proposal was for a $500 setup fee, and $1,260 per month charge. The monthly charge would be for a T1 line and services.
Kevin Cronkleton, hospital financial officer, said CPSI would be responsible for firewall protection, virus protection, and other technical issues that may arise.
"Not having to have an IT (information technology or computer) professional on-site will save the hospital money," Cronkleton said.
Cronkleton said he had requested and received a bid from SBC but did not receive a bid from Galaxy Cablevision.
SBC's bid was $4,000 for setup and $500-$600 a month for the first year. In addition, the hospital would need to have a computer professional on-site. Cronkleton said the salary for an IT professional would cost a minimum of $40,000 a year.
In addition, CPSI can satisfy HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requirements.
The board approved printer and networking purchases totaling nearly $28,000.
Banner was willing to give four computers to the hospital for the price of shipping, Cronkleton said. The board approved the shipping expenses for the computers to be sent.
The board also approved:
— CPSI to provide patient invoicing and billing at 47 cents per statement. The company can provide the service on any frequency with any message on the statement.
— Blue Cross/Blue Shield to provide short term and long term disability for hospital and living center employees. The annual cost will be $44,468 for both insurances.
— Vision care if 50 employees participate in the program, as required by the provider.
— Sump pump in the clinic basement for $845 from Jim Davis Air Conditioning. A bid from Flaming Heating-Air Conditioning also was received for $1,050-$1,320.
— Leasing space in clinic basement for a home medical equipment supplier, Home Care Equipment.
Marion County Home Care Services previously had provided the supplies through Banner.
Banner had notified the hospital it would no longer provide a necessary piece of equipment, an oxygen concentrator which the new vendor was willing to provide, said Cronkleton.
"Once Banner pulls out, the service will be gone," said Cronkleton.
— Board treasurer Greg Bowers reported the district had an income of $5,721 for the month of July. Funds were paid to Quorum, $7,700; Sanders Electric for fire alarm, $700; and chiller for air conditioning unit, $59,800 totaling $72,000.
A balance of $420,073 remained and $500,000 in CDs, gave the board a total balance of $920,073.
Bowers also presented a financial report for the foundation. Checking account has a balance of $188 and a $595,936 balance in a money market account.
— Cronkleton reported to the board a medical records encoder would need to be purchased. He is in the process of obtaining bids. The current decoder, owned by Banner, cannot be retained by the hospital.
— Jan Moffitt, chief nursing officer, said she was planning a flu clinic and asked if there was a liability issue. She said she wanted to have a drive-through clinic, where people can remain in their vehicles and get a flu shot.
Hospital chief executive officer Doug Newman said he would not know until the hospital received the new policy.
— Cronkleton reported the hospital had a loss of revenue for July.
"The loss is on paper," Cronkleton said, mostly because of depreciation by Banner. However, there was a decrease in patient volume.
There were 23 admissions, compared with 29 last year, and 255 admissions year-to-date for this year, compared with 273 last year.
Also outpatient and home health visits were less than the previous year, Cronkleton said.
— Eileen Sieger of the hospital auxiliary, presented a financial report. As of June 30, the auxiliary's general fund has a balance of $1,038, the special fund/quilt project has a balance of $5,401, for a total of $6,439.
There were two certificates of deposit for $1,000 each. The interest from one CD was used for scholarship funds, Sieger said.
The 2005 budget hearing will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the back room of Stone City Café.
The next board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in the clinic basement.
