KDH Health Fair date set, mowing bid accepted, finances

 


The Kiowa District Hospital Board met last Thursday for their regular March meeting. A separate story tells about the board's decision to enter a contract with Cohesive Healthcare, who provides management and consulting services to rural and community hospitals. The remainder of the meeting follows.

Board President Brenna May called the meeting to order with all members present including: Jeff Miller, Pat Myers, Jim Parker and Chantae Simpson. CEO Margaret Grismer also sat at the board table. Other hospital personnel attending were: CFO Janell Goodno, DON Heidi Courson, RN Robyn Whitaker, PA Melissa Stroh and KDH Foundation President Judy Schrock.

Sports Physicals and Health Fair Dates Set

KDH plans their Third Annual Health Fair to be held April 28. LifeTeam, the emergency medical helicopter transport service contracted with KDH, is scheduled to be at the health fair and will have their helicopter on display. They'll also have a table inside to share information and take memberships.

Grismer said LifeTeam will offer a 30 percent discount on memberships ONLY the day of the health fair April 28. Lifeteam will also having a drawing that day for a free membership.

Sports physical dates were set at the meeting: May 16 for Burlington students; and May 18 for South Barber students.

Mowing Bid Accepted, Recruiting and Other KDH Business

Board members discussed bids submitted for mowing hospital properties. They decided to stick with the company they've used the last two years as the board is pleased with their work. That is Commercial and Residential Mowing and Landscaping from Harper at a cost of $378 per service.

The other vendor who submitted a bid for mowing is a new service call Lawnsharp based in Kiowa with owner Blaine Bassler.

Giving a Rural Health Clinic report, Stroh said they've hired a new receptionist at the clinic. She is Jeremi Lucero from Alva who just started Monday.

The physician assistant said that April is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Stroh is doing free skin screenings at the clinic throughout the month.

The following medical staff appointments received board approval: Brian Hunt, MD, and J. Andrew Bukaty, DO.

Grismer gave an update on physician and mid-level practitioner recruitment. She said they have ongoing negotiations with one mid-level practitioner. Another mid-level practitioner who interviewed with KDH and five other sites accepted a position elsewhere. The search for a doctor continues, she said.

Grismer had asked the board to consider installation of LED lights rather than the fluorescent lights they have now. This was because of the potential cost saving in the long run. Myers said it's been his experience in the workplace that although LED produces better lighting, “It's not near the (energy) savings they said it would be.” The board took no action and agreed to drop the subject for now.

The board approved the minutes from numerous special meetings that were executive sessions they held when considering the services of Cohesive.

Manor Administrator Kim Balding was unavailable to give a report as she attended a training on new regulations.

Hospital and Manor Statistics and Finances

“February was an expensive month,” Goodno said as she gave statistic and financial information for the hospital district.

The CFO said KDH made their annual USDA loan payment, which is approximately $210,000 each year. This helped fund the new hospital.

The hospital had total operating revenue of $335,990 for February. This reflects a reduction in gross patient revenue for the month. Expenses totaled $486,199. This made a loss from operations of $150,209. With the addition of mainly tax revenue of $81,071, the loss was curbed to $69,139.

The hospital had 21 admissions, only one swingbed. That's why the board is hopeful that Cohesive Healthcare will help significantly improving swingbed patient numbers.

Total outpatient visits totaled 506. Clinic visits were 348.

The manor had 24 residents for February. The manor showed total operating revenue of $120,233. Operating expenses totaled $145,769 for a loss of $25,536. With the addition of $5,025 mainly tax revenue, the loss was reduced to $20,511.

The manor's loss year to date is $60,303. The hospital's loss is $114,064. The overall loss to the district year to date is $174,368.

Cash on hand is $924,867. In February reimbursements due from Medicare totaled $450,651. Uncollected taxes due in June are $356,620.

Following executive session at the end of the meeting, the board accepted the bid from CCM Countertop and Cabinet Mfg, LLC for the emergency room remodel to prepare for Level IV Trauma Certification in an amount not to exceed $6,111. The bid beats the original budget of $10,000 for this project.

 

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