The meeting of the hospital board was called to order Monday, June 1, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Manor conference room.
Present were board members Joyce Baughman, Benny Cabrera, Milton Gillespie, Kirk Heger and Dean Van Horn. Patty Lahey and Keith Rome were absent. Others present were hospital/nursing home Administrator Linda Stalcup, Chief Financial Officer Dave Piper, Director of Nursing/Stevens County Hospital Dawn Maas, Director of Nursing/Pioneer Manor Jennifer Featherston, Clinic Director Stacy Helget, Registered Health Information Technician Jessica Reinerio, Dr. Samer Al-Hashmi “Dr. Sam”, Public Relations/Risk Management respresentative Alisha Esarey and Hermes reporter Wilma Bartel.
The amended minutes of the last meeting and the current agenda were approved unanimously.
Alisha Esarey submitted the policies and procedures to the board for review and approval. There were no changes from last year and the board voted unanimously to approve them.
Dawn Maas said the out-patient treatment and emergency room had been really busy in May. Otherwise they were maintaining and trying to make do with what they have.
Stacy Helget presented the clinic report. During the sports physical clinic at the Hugoton school, they had performed 76 physicals, numbers lower than anticipated. She said the clinic would continue with sports physicals throughout the summer. Helget had called Moscow schools to see if they were interested in a similar program, but had reached them on their last day of school. She said they would start the process earlier next school year.
Dr. Sam gave the medical staff report. He said the clinic was a little slower during May which was not unusual with the end of school and the start of summer vacations and they expected June to follow the pattern.
Joyce Baughman advised the board of a routine letter she had received from the auditors regarding how the audit would be conducted this year.
Jennifer Featherston updated the board for Pioneer Manor. The current census is 69. They currently have two night CNA positions open but have received a lot of applications which are in the review process.
Linda Stalcup presented the CEO report. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised the State Operations Manuel effective April 7, 2015. These are the guidelines used by survey agencies and accrediting entities when surveying critical access hospitals. The next survey for the Stevens County Hospital is due in 2017 and the hospital is
responsible for implementing the updated regulations before that time.
With a grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) is commissioning tests to determine the feasibility of modifying rural health care delivery. A “paper test” of the models is to be done before a demonstration of the new models. A brief outline of the two models is as follows:
1. Rural hospitals would no longer offer inpatient admissions
2. Urgent care would consist of either 12-hour coverage or 24-hour coverage with limited laboratory and radiology procedures available.
Hospital management met with Sunflower representatives concerning Pioneer Manor billing. Sunflower is a managed care organization (MCO). Since 2013 some claims have been denied and the agency has been attempting to recoup money already paid out. Working through statements from Sunflower has been frustrating and time consuming. Management is exploring options regarding the Sunflower contract.
Stalcup asked the board to consider approving a credit card for use by Pioneer Manor staff for activities and travel. The Board unanimously approved the request to apply for a card with a $2500 credit limit.
Stalcup said the budget had been presented to the county commissioners.
Regarding the HVAC system at the hospital, they now have a signed letter of intent and can proceed with the planning. The engineers have done a walk-through of the facility with Maintenance Supervisor Trevor Mangels.
Dave Piper was next on the agenda. Cash flow had turned around fairly well and they were able to stay current. He said Cerner, the electronic health record (EHR) vendor, had corrected issues. The EHR audit has been completed and the hospital will have to pay back $3300, much less than expected. The hospital would be able to negotiate and no check would need to be written. Piper spoke of some of the problems with the EHR system. Hospitals had received a mandate but were not advised what needed to be in the record.
A board member brought up an opinion piece she had read on the internet by Charles Krauthammer. If our readers wish to read the article, click here.
There being no old or new business the board voted unanimously to adjourn.
The next meeting of the hospital/nursing home board is scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the Stevens County Hospital community room.
