Alva Review-Courier -

The Kiowa District Hospital Board voted to extend an offer to a new mid-level staffer, a family nurse practitioner (FNP), at their September meeting last Thursday night.

KDH CEO Margaret Grismer said the board's action came after an executive session. She confirmed the board offered the FNP student a conditional letter of employment. The woman will graduate in late February. Upon successful passing of certification, she will be ready for employment in April. Grismer said more details will follow if the FNP accepts the offer.

Board President Brenna May called the meeting to order with the following members present: Pat Myers, Jim Parker, Chantae Simpson. Jeff Miller was absent. KDH CEO Margaret Grismer also sat at the board table.

Other hospital personnel attending the meeting include: CFO Janell Goodno, Manor Administrator Kim Balding, Hospital DON Heidi Courson, and Tara Girty from the business office.

Grismer said another action taken after executive session was the board's approval to establish and begin recruitment of an IT manager position.

The board also approved the use of LifeSolutionz – an alternative payment solution for physicians to use in recruitment strategies for student loan repayment, etc. This is endorsed by the Kansas Hospital Association, Grismer said.

The quality assurance and risk management monthly reports were approved for the hospital and manor.

The Benefits of Having Both Life Team and Eagle Med Insurance

Grismer gave a clarification regarding the services the hospital uses for emergency medical helicopter transfers to Wichita.

KDH is contracted with Lifeteam for that service. That is the only helicopter service KDH calls. If for some reason Lifeteam is not available, Lifeteam would call EagleMed, as part of their “patient-first motto.”

What does this mean to potential patients and the cost they would incur for one of these medical emergency flights that cost approximately $22,000?

Grismer explained that Lifeteam insurance is available for $55 annually. EagleMed insurance is $65 annually.

If a patient has Lifeteam insurance, they are covered whether or not they are transported by Lifeteam or EagleMed. However, if the patient has only EagleMed insurance, their emergency flight will not be covered.

It is up to the individual, but potential patients can purchase both Lifeteam and EagleMed insurance if desired to insure they are covered for this expensive service. It could possibly pay for those services in other parts of the U.S., if serviced by one of those two companies or their affiliates.

Grismer said insurance forms for Lifeteam are available in the the KDH lobby or by downloading the forms on-line. She added that LifeTeam was offering to extend the first year’s coverage to the end of the EagleMed year plus one year if families converted during the KDH transition/introductory period.

In Grismer's administrator's report she told the board KDH now has a second 340B drug discount provider in addition to Prescriptions Plus in Kiowa. This is the “KDH Home Delivery Option” by EquiScripts through Experian pharmacies.

Regarding the ongoing physician recruitment by KDH, Grismer said they continue to use the many online sources they've been using. Also, board and foundation member Brenna May and Whitney Renner attended the KUMed recruiting event in Wichita recently.

Grismer said KDH's “best recruitment” is through Dr. Tomsen, a Via Christie Residency instructor/attending who spent six months working at KDH. She said Dr. Tomsen's contacts with third year residents supply KDH with “weekend coverage of good candidates when we need it. They get to experience our community and our facility which is the best type of recruitment.”

Hospital and Manor Statistics and Financials

As Goodno presented financial and statistical information for August she said the hospital was slow, total outpatient visits were constant and total clinic visits were “much better” at 408.

The hospital operating statement showed the hospital's total operating revenue as $318,790. Operating expenses were $524,078. This made a net loss from operations of $205,289. The addition of $58,135 mainly tax revenue curbed the loss to $147,154.

Goodno said the monthly loss was due to three pay periods, higher contract provider labor expense, and the Medicare rate adjustment.

Year-to-date, the hospital remains in the black by $53,206.

The CFO said Medicare paid KDH $158,000 during August to catch up their 2016 payments. If KDH would have completed a cost report on Aug. 31, they would be in a payable status to Medicare for $60,000, Goodno said.

The manor's total operating revenue in August was $131,251. With total operating expenses of $165,242, the manor showed a loss of $28,025. The addition of mainly tax revenue of $5,539 made the loss $22,486.

Year-to-date, the manor's loss is $176,666. That's nearly $100,000 less that at the same time last year when the loss was $265,847 at the end of August.

“That's a big deal,” Grismer said, complimenting Manor Administrator Balding on her cost-cutting efforts.

At the end of August, the district (combined hospital and manor) showed a combined loss of $123,461.

The total net patient accounts receivable was $556,416.

Goodno said the most exciting news is that the total cash on hand (in the banks) for the district is $1,430,699.

“We have worked diligently to set up reserve accounts to ensure the hospital district has funds to meet next year’s budget,” Goodno said. “Cash on hand has increased due to the Medicare cost report receivable, electronic healthcare records (E.H.R.) incentive payments, and increased revenue during 2016.”

Other KDH Business and Reports

Balding said the manor currently has 23 residents. She said they still seek a director of nurses and also two nurses since two recently resigned. The manor has a few new windows which Balding said give a nice view.

Balding also briefly discussed the need for Wander Guard bracelets for manor residents. The board tabled the subject until more information is gathered.

The KDH Mobile Meals program is serving 21 meals per day from the manor's kitchen. Some of those meals are delivered to Burlington residents. Balding said the program is successful thanks to the volunteers headed by Courtney Schupbach.

Hospital Director of Nurses Courson reported on numerous continuing education classes staff has completed. She said the hospital is now fully staffed with nurses.

Goodno updated the board on the hospital ground's landscaping effort. She said they had 26 volunteers help on Sunday, Sept. 25. Goodno said the five to six hours of volunteerism saved the district approximately $5,000. She thanked members of the community, staff, board, foundation and school groups like the FFA, 4-H and Turner Youth for volunteering in the landscaping effort.

The Rural Health Clinic has administered flu shots on specified days. The next is Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The cost of the flu shots is $43. KDH can file with insurance for shot recipients.

The board approved medical staff appointments.

The next meeting of the KDH Board is Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., in the lobby of the clinic.