Kiowa District Hospital Board President Pat Myers called the regular monthly meeting of the board to order the evening of Jan. 24. All members were present including: Chantae Simpson, Miranda Allen, Jeff Miller and Jim Parker. CEO Robert Whitaker and Manor Administrator John Fonang also sat at the board table. CFO Janell Goodno was there to give hospital and manor financial and statistical information. Others present included: Robyn Whitaker, DON; Tara Girty, Business Office Manager; Judy Schrock, Foundation president; and members of Cohesive Healthcare and the public.

Following executive session at the end of the meeting, the board approved offering a 30 percent payment discount for any hospital or clinic account with a date of service prior to February 1, 2019, if the account is paid in full by March 31, 2019.

Representing the K-State Research and Extension office at the courthouse in Barber County, Robin Eubank-Callis and Walinda Arnett attended the October KDH board meeting. They told of the success of a community garden in Medicine Lodge through the FFA. The women propose a garden on Kiowa's hospital grounds. The produce could be utilized by the hospital, manor and community.

Last year the community garden at Medicine Lodge made 495 pounds of produce. That was on a garden plot 40 feet by 80 feet. The garden was cared for by volunteers – individuals and community groups. None of the produce can be sold. Any produce taken out of the garden must be weighed.

At that October meeting the board discussed other possible locations. They voted yes to partner with K-State extension for this worthwhile community project.

Now the KDH board invites the public to meet at 6 p.m., Feb. 28, which is one hour prior to the 7 p.m. board meeting in the clinic lobby. The South Barber Garden Committee will meet at 6 p.m., and wants community input on where the best location will be for the community garden.

Hospital and Manor Financials and Statistics

As Goodno was giving financial and statistical information for the hospital and manor in December, Whitaker interjected that the clinic visits were the lowest month of the year due to Dr. Paul Wilhelm not working as he had surgery and was out of commission. The clinic visits totaled 306. Total outpatient visits were 465.

The hospital had seven total admissions with 43 days of acute and swingbed care. Of that total 26 day were swingbed.

The manor's resident census held at 24 residents.

The hospital's operating statement for December showed total contractual adjustments of $76,232. The hospital's total operating revenue was $441,722. Total operating expenses were $665,494. This made a loss of $223,772 for KDH. With the addition of tax revenue and other non-operating revenue, all totaling $87,481, the loss was curbed to $136,291. So YTD the hospital has lost $266,415.

Goodno said they collected over $110,000 tax credit money that paid in part for numerous pieces of equipment that was also supported financially by the Friends of the KDH and Manor Foundation.

The average days in accounts receivable for December was 49, which is very good, Goodno said.

The manor showed total operating revenue of $145,747 for December. Total operating expenses were $152,765. This made for a $7,018 loss. However, with $5,000 tax revenue and a transfer from the Foundation, the manor showed a profit of $3,382.

So YTD, the manor lost only $23,665. That's quite an accomplishment over last year when the total loss was $355,087. When Goodno shared those figures, the board broke into applause and hollered “Way to go John!”

When giving information from the combined balance sheets of the hospital and manor, Goodno said they are ending 2018 in a payable status to Medicare. However KDH will not have to make any payments until May. She said they are trying to get draft numbers within the next 45 days that may help.

At the end of 2018, the combined loss for the hospital and manor was $290,081. Cohesive CFO Mike Hand recalled that loss was near $800,000 in 2017 so the situation is improving.

The board approved all the financial information and reports.

More KDH Board Business and Reports

The CEO reported that they hired a new Quality and Care Manager to replace Robyn Whitaker who is KDH DON. He is Michael Asebedo.

Whitaker told of survey results, any minor deficiencies and corrections. Any and all have been corrected. Anyone can ask to see the list as they are an open record.

There were three separate surveys: The life safety survey where the fire marshal comes out and checks the building, the emergency preparedness survey, and the clinical recertification survey. The emergency preparedness survey had no deficiencies.

Whitker said the surveyors talked about the KDH program really being a model program.

There were five deficiencies regarding the life safety survey that are all corrected. The clinical survey had a few minor deficiencies, that are also all corrected. Robyn Whitaker has a plan and will do some education, the CEO said.

Regarding the manor, maintenance director Mike Rhodes is working on some modifications in the kitchen and is getting quotes on the cabinets that need replacement. Fonang said the manor is looking for a DON.

It was suggested in the medical staff minutes that the four providers split up the manor residents and each provider will follow the same six residents for greater consistency and familiarity. The board approved.

The board also approved that food tray temperatures are to be checked at the manor and at the hospital. The board president signed the new Dietary Policies.

The Corporate Compliance minutes of the last quarterly meeting received board approval.

The following Medical Staff Appointments received board approval: Theresa Sutton, CRNA, Christopher Koch, MD, Matthew Mendlick, MD, Nidal Dabbasi, MD, Alexander Serra, MD, Mohammed Quraishi, MD, Johnathan Jaksha, MD, Jason Grennan, MD, Kathryn Cambron, MD, Jonathan Reed, MD, and Steven McCormack, MD.