Alva Review-Courier -

Share Medical Center CEO Kandice Allen told the Alva Hospital Authority (AHA) Feb. 28 that new general surgeon Dr. Ian Danial was expected to start March 1. Dr. Gregg will also continue to do surgeries at the hospital, and Dr. Hummel will continue with cataract surgeries through referrals from Callie Mosburg. Allen said an orthopedic surgeon was expected that week for an interview.

During January adjustments were made in the radiology department to schedule a staff member to work on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to coincide with Urgent Care hours. An extra day was added for ultrasounds. Outpatient hours were changed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to a Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule which allows outpatient tests after work hours for community members. Allen said, “Making those tweaks was going to save us, I think, $25,000 a year.”

CFO Report

The Share Medical Center continues to work on the rollout of MediTech for EHR (electronic health records). CFO Angelica Brady said the program is scheduled to go live in about 120 days.

Share Medical showed a net profit of $30,556 for January, Brady was happy to report. December had a net loss of $98,642.

Hospital gross patient revenue for the month was $1,877,059 which was a $178,649 increase compared to December. Total patient days for January were 79 compared to 48 in December. Total clinic office visits for January were 2,831 compared to 2,398 in December.

Share Convalescent Home had a net loss for January of $4,986. Gross patient revenue for the month was $215,318 which was an increase of $14,031 over December. Total patient days for January were 902 compared to 924 in December.

The Homestead showed a net loss of $15,235 for January with revenue of $36,655 and operating expenses of $51,890.

Call Boards

Board members voted to approve the purchase of 14 West-Com patient care boards for $38,298.39. Brady explained that these will go along with the nurse call light system that was approved earlier. The cost of the West-Com boards will be paid with Covid funds.

Staff Appointments

Dr. Scott Burk recommended the appointment and reappointment of three medical doctors, and they were approved. Benjamin Love, MD who is a pathologist was reappointed to courtesy staff. Brindha Gopala Krishnan, M.D., a pathologist, was appointed to courtesy staff. Julie Mahaney, MD, who does telemedicine, was reappointed to courtesy staff.

Medical Marijuana Policy

Chairman Jason Gaisford read the proposed Medical Marijuana Used by Patients policy stating medical marijuana use during an inpatient or outpatient stay will not be permitted. If an employee observes a patient using marijuana, the employee is to remind the patient of the policy and give them a medical marijuana sheet. Marijuana items will be given to a family to be removed from the premises at that time. If the patient is unaccompanied and not able to facilitate removal, the materials will be put in a box provided by the facility in the patient’s room by the patient and placed in a secure location until sent home with the family. The materials are to be tagged and noted in the chart, and the box will be locked. The policy was approved by a unanimous vote of the AHA trustees.

The next meeting of the AHA is scheduled for March 28.