Alva Review-Courier -

The Kiowa District Hospital Board held their annual meeting the evening of Thursday, May 25, at Kiowa's Community Building. The meeting was lightly attended by district patrons.

Presenting the hospital/manor audit for 2016, auditor Matt Morris of BKD said, “Overall, it was a good year” for KDH.

Morris noted that KDH had an improved cash position in 2016. He attributed that some to cutting costs and improved operations. He also referred to the 340B Discount Drug Program that allows small hospitals to purchase drugs at significantly reduced prices. In 2016, the hospital had $120,000 revenue from 340B, which Morris said also helped improve the cash position.

Also contributing to the increased cash-on-hand was federal reimbursement for electronic health records that the hospital originally had to pay up front. The auditor said the reimbursement had a $350,000 positive impact for KDH.

KDH's cash and CDs listed on the combined balance sheets of the hospital/manor showed a balance of $1,168,191 at the end of 2016. That was up significantly from the end of 2015 when cash-on-hand was $562,799.

KDH Board to Operate with Four Members

At the end of the annual meeting, the board opened the floor for nominations to fill the open seat of current Board President Brenna May, who declined seeking another term.

There were no nominations to fill that position. Board member Chantae Simpson, whose seat was also up for reelection, was absent from the meeting due to illness. Simpson said that she will accept another term. She was accepted for another term of service by acclamation.

So now the typically five-member hospital board will operate with four members. At the regular meeting held after the annual meeting, the members agreed to the following slate of officers: Pat Myers, president; Jeff Miller, vice president; Chantae Simpson, treasurer; and Jim Parker, secretary.

Using the KDH bylaws, Grismer explained how the board operates with just four members. She said the current KDH bylaws indicate that all business must take place with the concurrence of a quorum, which is defined as three or more members.

In addition, the by-laws state “if for any reason one of the officers of the board of directors is unable to complete the term, the vacated office shall be filled by a member of the board of directors upon election of appointment by the board of directors.”

Explanation: A four-member board still consists of a quorum (three members) and the board will actively search to appoint an appropriate director for the remainder of the term since no KDH District voting resident decided to run or agree to be nominated.

CEO Grismer Gives Annual Highlights

KDH CEO Margaret Grismer told of highlights for 2016. As reported above, she discussed the success of the 340B drug discount program they've done about two years.

This year KDH joined USAC, a federal program that gives e-rate services like phone and internet at an urban rate, which saves KDH money.

KDH formed a Family Advisory Committee.

With $18,000 in donations, KDH finished Phase I of the hospital grounds landscaping.

The hospital underwent emergency preparedness. Grismer said they went through a regulations review she described as “a major project.”

The search for a new electronic health records software provider was also major – a nine-month project. Grismer said she and a team traveled to Boston and other cities to check out the systems. Once KDH joined the management company Cohesive, some of their team helped in the search.

Participating in the Barber County Health Needs Assessment, KDH has the information back and posted on their website.

KDH remodeled the hospital house so visiting providers can stay there.

Grismer said the number of swingbed days continues to decline at the hospital. She said those decreasing numbers are why the board voted to join with Cohesive. This company has ways to bring more swingbed patients to KDH.

Grismer introduced Cohesive CEO Kathy Hammons. She said Cohesive will optimize some of KDH's services.