Alva Review-Courier -

New general surgeon Addison Roberts, DO, had his first day at Share Medical Center on Tuesday, Feb. 27. He plans to be at the hospital twice a month on Tuesdays. Roberts is a board-certified general surgeon who graduated with a dual degree from the University of Oklahoma in zoology biomedical sciences and microbiology. He then attended A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2016. He completed his general surgery residency at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and then went on to complete a Minimally Invasive Fellowship in Robotic Foregut, Hernia and Colorectal Surgery with Florida Surgical Specialists. He joined Surgical Associates in 2022.

Originally from Tulsa, Roberts knew he always wanted to come back to his hometown and state. When not working, he enjoys family time with his wife Taylor, his two sons and their two chocolate labs. At Share Medical, Dr. Roberts will be doing general surgery with an emphasis in hernias, endocrine, colorectal and foregut surgery.

During the Alva Hospital Authority (AHA) meeting Tuesday, Share Medical Center CEO Kandice Allen spoke about the onboarding of Dr. Roberts. She said a designated area has been set up for specialty clinics with Dr. Roberts and Dr. Joel Tupper, the orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. Gregg who has been doing two endoscopy days a month at the hospital is planning to retire in July. The hospital will begin recruiting for a provider to fill his spot.

Mammography Equipment Installation

The hospital expects to begin accept mammography appointments in April, said Allen. The old equipment has been removed and installation of the new machine is slated for the first week of March. Karlee Dietz has completed her mammography training in Las Vegas to work in that department.

During the meeting, CFO Angelica Brady discussed the purchase of related software. She said the iCAD-USCAN from GE Healthcare is add-on software that will allow reading of the three images from the mammography machine. The AHA trustees voted approval of the purchase at a cost of $53,176.80.

Brady said this software, training for Dietz and the approximately $272,000 purchase of the new mammography machine are being paid for by donations totaling $350,000.

Urgent Care Staffing

Allen said she interviewed three nurse practitioners to find help for Urgent Care. One has been hired to start next week. She gave a shout out to Jennifer Nichols, Bryan Nutter and Steve Madrid. "They each take 2.5 to 3 hours out of their clinic on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to cover that," she said. Allen said Nutter works in Urgent Care on Mondays, Nichols handles Fridays, and the three providers have been rotating weekends. "They've done a great job covering it, and of course it happened during the busiest time of the year," she added, citing the flu and Covid season.

Commenting on the revenue cycle, Allen said the last three months the hospital has had the highest gross revenue they've had since October 2018.

Sale of Nursing Home Requires Voting

Share Convalescent Home Administrator Kelly Parker said the sale of the facility to Beadles is going to have to go to a vote of the people. "We worked with Drew (Cunningham) and some other legal counsel with the Municipal League. They said case law would require the nursing home to go to a vote of the people. The earliest we can be on a ballot is June 18," Parker said. They are working on the language for the ballot.

"In the meantime, we're still working with Beadles and moving in the direction of that transition," Parker said.

In March Dayna Jordan from Beadles will become the head of nursing at Share Convalescent. Parker said that Christy Willyard has been filling that position while still working as a floor nurse. "They (Beadles) are sending more staff up to help fill our schedule," Parker said. "In fact they have taken over writing that schedule using both our staff and their staff to fill the shifts in both buildings."

Financial Reports

Share Medical Center had a net income of $628,196 for January. Hospital gross patient revenue for the month totaled $2,091,652, an increase of $67,324 compared to the prior month.

Total patient days for January were 47 compared to 67 in December. Total clinic office visits for January were 1,871 compared to 1,617 in December.

The patient census at Share Convalescent Home was up about 2.5 patients per day in January. Skilled nursing days, which are charged at a higher rate, more than doubled in January compared to December. The convalescent home had a net come for January of $7,778.

Parker said the Homestead had another good month with a small increase in census. Floor installation has been completed in three apartments. While increasing expense, this means the Homestead has three more apartments ready to rent.

The Homestead had total operating revenue of $57,974 in January and operating expenses of $66,056 with a net loss of $8,082 for the month.