KDH has all tax credits sold or pledged

There's a change on the Kiowa District Hospital Board of Directors. After over nine years of service, Jeff Miller opted to retire from the board. At the end of the October meeting, Kiowa man Kevin Wise was appointed to fill the unexpired term.

KDH President Pat Myers called the meeting to order with board members present: Marcia Cantrell, Chantae Simpson and Jim Parker. Hospital personnel attending included CEO/CFO Janell Goodno, COO Philip Anton, CNO Brandy Campbell, HR Director Jana Mott, Facilities Director Brad Applegarth, Business Office Manager Tara Girty, Accountant/Biller Courtney Larson, Foundation President Judy Schrock, and Kiowa City Manager Ty Piper.

Goodno said KDH was awarded $200,000 in tax credits. She happily told the board all the tax credits have been either sold or pledged. This equals $285,000 for KDH to use on projects (in this case on the addition to the daycare).

Applegarth updated the board on facility projects. The outdoor project at the manor is about finished. The cement has been poured and the gazebo is in the backyard. The exterior was painted, outdoor furniture purchased ($17,000), new yard lights, front porch ceiling fans, and more landscaping added to the beauty residents say they love. The foundation paid for the project, which totaled $31,048.

Fifteen windows on the north side of the manor will be replaced in November. Applegarth said the childcare addition will have its final KDHE survey in about two weeks.

Regarding the utility easement and City of Kiowa Ordinance, Goodno told the board that the city council denied the proposal that would have them vacate the utility easement by the KDH daycare. She said KDH contacted their attorney, Hannah Brass.

Kiowa City Administrator Ty Piper attended and spoke to the board. The city has an alternative proposal, where they would vacate the present easement and establish a new easement 30 feet wide by three blocks long south of the existing power lines. Piper said this is so the city can access their power poles to make repairs – especially in a storm damage situation. Applegarth and the board would like to see this on a survey map. No action was yet taken pending more information.

As KDH is on the road to become a Trauma Level IV center, they need required equipment. The foundation agreed to pay for the equipment, which includes an EKG, Bair Hugger System, small ER equipment and training/education costs in the amount of $31,200.87. The EKG was previously approved, and the foundation approved the transfer.

Anton presented the annual IT risk assessment and said his biggest thing is to determine the direction. He is assessing if KDH wants to stay with Century Technologies or move to GHPA/Sophos. All cloud connections require multi-factor authentication. Sophos currently provides 24/7 Managed Detection Response. All removable media (eg, thumb drives) are blocked except on four computers. They are doing all patches in house and there will be training on the risks of AI (artificial intelligence). There's so much to consider, he said, listing a few: protecting information, avoid HIPPA violations, etc.

The following medical staff appointment was board-approved: Kimberly Burkholz, MD (vRad). The board also approved routine monthly reports. After about a 40-minute executive session, the board approved the risk management report for the manor.

Administrators Speak on Hospital and Manor

Goodno said the KDH Employee Monthly Spotlight went to Desiree Howland, an employee at the manor.

She provided a long list of happenings at the hospital including: 2024 Evaluations Complete; Employee Flu Shots/Fit Testing; Medicare Advantage Update; Foundation Manor Tour; PT Patient Party: October 17 Recap; Empac Leadership Training: October 21 and 22 Recap; KDH Health Fair: October 25, well attended; KDH AII Employee Appreciation Night: Nove. 8 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Kiowa Community Building.

Current staffing needs: Hospital - Housekeeping; Manor - C.N.A. Full-Time; Hospital - Medical Laboratory Technician; Radiology Tech.

Reporting on the manor, Anton said they currently have 23 residents; currently have a 5 star rating; the pergola installed in the back; landscaping completed and front porch beams wrapped; Employees brought back good ideas from the PEAK conference; new colorful birds for residents. The manor received a $2,000 grant from Marjory Gillig Grant for activities.

Hospital and Manor Statistics and Financials

Larson presented statistics and financial information for the hospital and manor in September. There were 15 total admissions to the hospital. Total days of acute and swingbed were 54. Of those, 15 were acute and 39 days were swingbed.

Outpatient visits totaled 824. Departments with the largest number of visits: Lab, 346; Therapy, 179; X-ray, 94; ER, 77; CT scan, 36. There were 521 clinic visits.

The hospital operating statement shows an overall loss of $40,223 ending September 30. With contractual adjustments and other adjustments, total operating revenue was $642,889. Of that amount, $44,155 was 340B discount drug money. Operating expenses were $798,748. Net from operations was a loss of $155,859. With the addition of non-operating revenue of $115,636 (mainly tax revenue), the loss was curbed to $40,223. Year to date, the hospital was in the black $796,825 at the end of September.

The manor's operating statement shows a loss of $38,505 at the end of September. Total operating revenue was $177,169. Expenses were $222,942. This made a loss of $45,772. With the addition of non-operating revenue $7,267 (of which $5,000 is tax revenue), the loss was curbed to $38,505. Year to date, the manor had a loss of $363,651 at the end of September.

Using the comparative balance sheets dated Sept. 30, 2024, Larson said total cash in all funds is $1,586,257. The current year loss for hospital/manor was $431,897. Total assets were $11,200,342.

Girty presented the accounts receivable and aging report for the end of September. Accounts receivable were $1,335,752. The average days in AR: 38; days of cash on hand: 49; and total payments made $649,207.

The board approved all the financial and statistical reports.