Hospital board looks at communications center funding
The East Phillips County Hospital District Board of Directors welcomed Phillips County Commissioner Garold Roberts to its regular monthly meeting Aug. 23 at Melissa Memorial Hospital.
Roberts gave the board a rundown of recent meetings about altering the way entities contribute to the funding for the Phillips County Communications Center.
“The commissioners want the comm center to be a joint effort,” he said.
Of a $325,000 operating budget for 2023, the county is willing to pay 50%, or $162,500.
In this same senario, Phillips County 911 Authority would pay $93,495, which is based on a phone line surcharge of $4 per month — an increase request that had not been approved yet.
Other proposed contributions included $2,450 from Haxtun ambulance, $4,030 from Holyoke ambulance, $500 from each of the rural fire boards, $14,520 from the town of Haxtun and $47,005 from the city of Holyoke.
Roberts pointed out how cool it was that representatives from all of the entities came together for the meetings from which this scenario was created.
Hospital board member Sheila Gift said it was unfair to ask for a contribution from the rural fire boards.
It’s an opportunity for them to contribute, but only if they can, said Roberts, noting that the rural fire boards were also part of the planning process.
Board member Gary Rahe said he thinks there needs to be long-term planning for the purchase of new equipment for the comm center, and he likes the idea of the entity representatives reconvening on a yearly basis.
Lab is ready to test for monkeypox
The MMH lab is now ready to test for monkeypox, reported interim CEO Stella Worley in her administrator’s report Aug. 23.
She also said that Jimmie Bailey III’s title has been changed to chief compliance officer. Dr. Craig McCarty has been named the clinic medical director, and Dr. Rebecca Moore’s last day was set for Aug. 25.
Dr. Jeffrey Schopp, an orthopedic surgery specialist, will no longer be coming to the MMH specialty clinic, and Worley said they are in negotiations to bring in another option.
Worley said they need to contract with Banner Health for obstetrics and gynecology providers to come to Holyoke periodically from Sterling.
She said they’ve received family nurse practitioner resumes and are also in communication with a third-year Spanish-speaking medical resident who will visit MMH. The nursing department is working on processes and recruiting.
MMH’s trauma level IV state review was Aug. 2, and there’s a plan of correction for state criteria on meeting attendance and peer reviews.
Worley announced that MMH received a $231,600 grant from the Office of eHealth Innovation for IT needs. And speaking of IT, the move from Banner Health to Elevate IT services has now been fully implemented.
In looking ahead at the calendar, Worley announced that there will be a Pink Out fashion show event Oct. 23, the Legacy of Thanks event Nov. 10 (by invitation only) and the Legacy Event fundraiser Feb. 11, 2023.
A fundraiser at Ballyneal Golf Club recently raised $30,000 for the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative.
July financials see loss in net income
In his financial report for the month of July, Chief Financial Officer David Applewood reported that total revenue was $1.9 million and total expenses were $1.9 million for a net income of negative $46,000.
Year-to-date net income at the end of July was negative $145,500.
Applewood said that, like June, the inpatient side of things was still down in July.
Other business
In other business Aug. 23, the board:
— Approved credentialing for one initial applicant and eight reappointments.
— Heard a Quality Committee report from Karen Hooker.
— Reviewed governance policies 3.1 regarding unity of control and 4.3 regarding agenda planning.
— Noted that board president Steve Young got a letter from a citizen who was concerned about Dr. Moore no longer being at MMH. He said he wants to respond to that person with an acknowledgement that the board received the letter.
— Noted the company MMH is working with for the CEO search has candidates they feel good about. Zoom meetings will be scheduled.
— Held an executive session for contracts.
Special meeting set
A special meeting of the East Phillips County Hospital District Board of Directors is set for Friday, Sept. 9, at 3 p.m. in the board room at MMH.