Hospital board receives reports of new staff, training

There was a new face at the Aug. 29 meeting of the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. Melissa Johnson was approved to fill the board position recently vacated by Breez Daniels. Hospital CEO Margie Molitor said Daniels enjoyed being on the board, but being the Grade 5-12 principal for the school district took priority.

The decision to appoint Johnson to the position was made during a special board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and she was officially sworn in Aug. 29.

During the meeting, Dr. Jason Weyer with Red Rock Family Practice reported Hallie Bischoff would be joining the practice on Sept. 18. Weyer said Bischoff is a full-time, full-scope family medicine doctor, and will be practicing full-time in the emergency room and obstetrics, and he’s excited for her to be here.

Weyer noted Bischoff has also done a residency in Casper, and an OB fellowship in Seattle for more experience, making her even more well-rounded. He said the hospital sees a lot of OB work, some of it high-risk, here in Hot Springs County and from the surrounding counties.

Having Bischoff here also helps to ensure patients are able to get in with someone, should there be a flood of patients. Weyer said he doesn’t take offense when patients choose to see and establish with someone other than him.

Weyer also reported Lindsay Brooks has joined as a nurse practitioner, working as something of a “floater,” covering as needed in Thermopolis, Worland and Basin, as the same system is used in all three locations.

Another item being addressed, Weyer said, is the privileges of the CRNA to allow them to do some different types of localized pain injections. He explained the only things done here now as far as pain injections are epidural steroids of the lumbar spine. He noted updating privileges would not only provide people with options for pain management, but it would be an additional revenue stream.

Weyer said the big key for staffing is trying to find the right people and the right mix for them to come here and stay here, but also ensuring those new staff members are not overwhelmed.

Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Aliff reported the hospital safety committee met and they are making improvements to ensure alarms on medical equipment are heard. She further reported safety policies are being reviewed and updated. Items for regulatory and compliance are up-to-date, such as fire drills, generator checks and maintenance on hospital equipment.

An active shooter class is currently in the works, Aliff said, with 20 staff members interested in taking it. Training also continues for proper waste disposal, and ensuring equipment is in the right place so people aren’t looking for it or reporting it’s missing.

Chief Financial Officer Shelly Larson reported the days in accounts receivable for July were 42.76, about an increase of four days. She noted there was a conversion with the hospital’s clearing house, which has impacted the submission of claims to the payers. This impacted the number of cash in hand days, which came in at just under 51.

With regard to the planned expansion and renovation of the hospital, Molitor said there would be a kickoff meeting Sept. 11 and 12, as well as visits to relatively local hospitals that have made recent updates and improvements. There will also be a planning session with the architects Oct. 2 and 3.

Molitor also reported every year Mountain Pacific Quality Health, the hospital’s Medicare quality improvement organization, gives out hospital quality awards. Hospitals have to apply for the awards, thought Molitor decided Hot Springs County Memorial would be better served to apply for an award next year.

She pointed out the hospital met most of the criteria on the application process, but there are some things they need to work on and the next year will allow them time for that. Among the things they need to work on, she said, is more patient family engagement in the hospital.

Following an executive session, the board approved an amendment to the master services agreement with Red Rock Family Practice. The amendment creates a three-year contract with Red Rock rather than one that is renewed annually.

A contract was approved for holistic pain management services, pending attorney approval. There was also an approved contract with Gaffey Financial Services. This provides an additional financial management program through HealthTech with no charge to the hospital.

Also approved was paying for an asbestos evaluation, at a cost of about $9,000. The evaluation will help determine what parts of the hospital, if any, have asbestos in them. As the renovation and expansion of the building moves forward, knowing where the asbestos is allows proper precautions to be taken.

A limited notice was approved with regard to the expansion which will allow it to proceed forward for a month, with costs not to exceed $50,000 in that time, while the contract with the design/build team of Sletten Construction is finalized.