Alva Review-Courier -

As the summer season begins, so does a new physicians assistant (PA) at the Kiowa District Hospital (KDH). Mindy Kobbeman, PA, starts her role at the KDH Rural Health Clinic and hospital in mid-July.

KDH CEO Margaret Grismer announced that at the May regular meeting of the KDH Board of Directors. This meeting followed the KDH annual meeting held at Kiowa's Community Building May 25.

Kobbeman is from Goddard and was married three weeks ago. She earned her PA degree from Wichita State University.

At that meeting elections were held. Board member Chantae Simpson was approved by acclamation to fill another term. As Brenna May declined to seek another term, there were no other nominations so the board is presently acting with four members which is allowed, according to the bylaws, Grismer said.

At the regular meeting the board elected officers: Pat Myers, president; Jeff Miller, vice-president; Chantae Simpson, treasurer; and Jim Parker, secretary. Simpson was unable to attend the meeting. The board's representative on the Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) will remain vacant.

Grismer told the board that May filled the role of public information officer (PIO). The PIO acts as spokesperson for KDH in the event of an Incident Command System.

“That position is important,” Grismer said. “It must be a face of public trust.”

The board decided to give serious thought to who will fill that position and tabled it until the June 29 meeting.

Department Heads Give Monthly Reports

Numerous individuals gave department reports.

Manor Administrator Kim Balding said she and staff are disappointed and sad that the manor recently lost five residents due to death. That makes the manor resident census just 17.

Balding said Cohesive Healtcare employee Michele Brown has spent a great deal of time with her at the manor, preparing for an impending survey. Balding said a recent surprise visit from the fire marshal found them with only a few minor issues that could be immediately remedied. For example, an emergency shutoff switch was within five feet of the generator.

The manor has a new director of nurses (DON) and Balding they've hired some agency staff.

As Balding said at the annual meeting, the KDH Mobile Meals Program (based from the manor kitchen) is doing well. Again, she thanked volunteer Courtney Schupbach for organizing the all-volunteer force of drivers who deliver meals. Meals are delivered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to 24 people, including some folks at Burlington.

Hospital DON Heidi Courson said they passed a surprise pharmacy inspection.

PA Melissa Stroh said the clinic held sports physical days for South Barber and Burlington students that were successful. She offered free skin screenings that resulted in four normal visits and 26 that require followup appointments.

June is Men's Health Month, Stroh said. On June 16, KDH will offer free hearing, vision and blood pressure checks for men.

At the annual meeting Friends of the Kiowa District Hospital and Manor Foundation President Judy Schrock gave an update. She said even though the new hospital was finished in 2014, the foundation continues in a fundraising mode.

Schrock said she realizes the need for an expanded physical therapy department at KDH. The foundation's fundraising efforts are for the PT effort and to purchase new equipment for the facilities.

The foundation's fourth annual dinner and auction date is set for Oct. 7.

KDH Finances, Statistics and Board Action

The board approved the following med staff appointments: Scott Andrews, DO, and Kevin Hamm, DO in radiology.

Following about a one-hour executive session, the board approved the hospital risk management/quality assurance (RMQA) report.

Presenting hospital and manor financials and statistics, CFO Janell Goodno said that April was “a considerably slow month.”

Goodno said total contractural adjustments were a positive $129,840. Stroh commented on how the Rural Healthcare Clinic numbers are the highest in many years at 1,425 year to date.

For April the hospital total operating revenue was $383,127. Total expenses were $559,433. This made a loss of $176,307. With the addition of mainly tax revenue totaling $78,179, the hospital's loss was $98,128. The hospital shows a loss of $155,826 year to date.

The manor's total operating revenue was $120,667. Expenses were $154,944 for an overall loss of $34,276. The addition of $5,172 mainly tax revenue curbed the loss to $29,104.

The combined year-to-date loss is $261,380. Total cash in all funds is $808,286. Uncollected taxes are $325,003 and will be collected from the county around June 20.