Alva Review-Courier -

Kiowa District Hospital held their monthly meeting Nov. 24 with all members present: President Pat Myers, Chantae Simpson, Jim Parker and Jeff Miller (via phone) along with CEO/CFO Janell Goodno. Also present were Business Office Manager Tara Girty, Operations/IT/Manor Administrator Philip Anton, Dr. Paul Wilhelm, Hospital DON Robyn Whitaker, Manor DON Robin Davis, Clinic Manager Lacey Volker, HR Director Jana Mott, Quality Manager Brandy McKitrick (via phone), Foundation President Judy Schrock.

Goodno said construction on the new addition is going well and slightly ahead of schedule. The brick veneer is finished. Framing is ongoing and the roof was about finished.

Mott gave a review on the 2021 handbook. She made some clarifications about holiday pay for nighttime nurses. Depending on their shift they will receive double pay. Regarding retirement benefits, if employees will contribute three percent of their salary, KDH will match it.

Employee health insurance rates increased due to high claims in the small pool. BCBS reportedly wanted to raise rates by 40 percent but settled for a 25 percent increase. Mott and Goodno plan to look at the state insurance plan for next year. The handbook and health insurance were approved.

Staff wants to convert three more patient rooms on the west side to negative pressure. This is for infectious disease control. Hutton will take the lead on this project, which will cost around $103,758. Covid funds can pay this cost. Hutton can have this done in about 14 days.

A UV-light cleaning system was on the agenda but was tabled until more research is completed.

The access controls installed at the manor and east hospital door have not worked properly. Anton wants to replace them with a system from INAalert. The other system will be returned.

Hospital and Manor Statistics and Financials

Goodno presented the statistical and financial reports for the hospital and manor in October. The hospital had total admissions of 15. Total days of care were 42 of which 17 were acute and 25 swingbed. Outpatient visits totaled 582 with clinic visits at 399.

For October the hospital showed a loss of $5,359. Gross patient revenue was $353,756; total contractual adjustments were $133,062 and with $18,625 340B (discount drug revenue), total operating revenue was $505,443.

The cost of supplies was up $15,528. Total operating expenses were $597,934. This made a loss of $92,491. With the addition of $87,132 (mainly tax revenue) the loss was curbed to $5,359. Still Year-to-Date, the hospital is in the black, $4,648,807 mainly due to Covid stimulus money.

Reporting on the Covid money, Goodno said of the almost $6 million received, $1.6 million remains. She said $1.3 million was returned to Medicare. She anticipates having to refund part of that amount. Goodno said as guidelines change what is considered allowable, KDH is being extremely conservative with spending that money.

The manor had a census of 22 the day of the board meeting. For October the manor's total operating revenue was $125,275. Expenses totaled $148,383. Tax revenue of $5,709 was added as was $51,133 of Covid stimulus funds. This showed the manor had a gain of $33,734 for October.

Girty reported the average days in AR for October was 45 which is positive. The board approved all the financial reports.

KDH Reports

In her administrator's report, Goodno said a part-time healthcare finance controller position opened. The person will work four to six per month on site with some remote. They'll do financials, audits, data analytics, reporting, budget, etc.

As reported in a separate story the Benjamin Steinmetz Charitable Foundation donated $330,000 to the

Friends of KDH Foundation. The Foundation has over $500,000 in funds now.

Goodno said that Mott will complete her BS in HR next month. Then she'll start her Masters Degree.

Giving the manor report, Anton said they had a second employee test positive for Covid, despite going above and beyond to keep residents safe. Residents are having to stay in their rooms for 14 days. All residents have stayed negative.

Anton said that Robin Davis asked to transition from DON to floor nurse. Now DON and ADON positions are open.