By: Brian Kuhn
The new addition at Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) was needed for many reasons, ranging from providing larger Patient Care Unit rooms with private bathrooms to centralizing services for easier patient access. It also provided an opportunity to provide patients and families the latest technology in MRI, CT, Digital X-ray and Patient Monitoring equipment; all of which are some of the most expensive diagnostic tools used by health care providers.
The BBGH Board of Trustees was asked at the Monday evening board meeting to approve several resolutions pertaining to leasing the above items, instead of purchasing them. CEO Dan Griess, FACHE, explained why leasing the equipment was preferable to purchasing. “One of the things I’ve learned is that you lease any kind of technology that has a steep curve in technology improvements,” he said. “A good example was a decision I made in the early 1990s to buy an ultrasound machine that was being offered at a good price, instead of leasing. The technology was improving so fast, that we ended up with a machine that was outdated just a year or two after the purchase. We couldn’t even get rid of it.” Since then the hospital has been leasing its current digital equipment so that they can be upgraded when appropriate. “We’ve been leasing our current MRI, CT and Digital Radiography equipment, and planned to do so for the new equipment we will be placing in the new addition,” he added. “We’ve also decided to lease new patient monitoring equipment instead of purchasing like we did in the past, since that’s another area where there is a steep technology improvement curve.” Patient monitoring equipment examples would be bedside cardiac monitoring, telemetry used to monitor vital signs, etc. A plus side on the new patient monitoring equipment is the fact that BBGH is looking at a pilot project with Healthland (the hospital’s digital records vendor) to develop a system that integrates patient monitoring equipment with the hospital’s Centriq electronic health records system.
The Trustees unanimously approved the resolutions required to go forward with the leases.
The Trustees also addressed the follow agenda items.
The board congratulated Mary Ohrtman for being chosen as the March Employee of the, as well as Kate Brummer, Occupational Therapist for being chosen as the April Employee of the Month. Also congratulated was Dr. Tim Narjes for being recognized as the Provider of Choice for the First Quarter of 2015. Dr. Narjes was the first provider to be recognized for that honor for the second time since the program’s inception. The board also welcomed new employees: Bridget Amm, MLT, Laboratory; Candice Clay, Imaging Specialist, HIM; Vaughn Lynes, Assistant Cook, Dietary; Laura Wolvington, Environmental Services; Jacob Lux, IT Help Desk; Paula Hopkins, Infusion Nurse; and Carolyn Peralta, Admissions.
After unanimously approving the consent calendar, the Trustees signed a proclamation recognizing May as TeamSTEPPS month (see accompanying photo).
The board then heard the monthly Quality Management and Safety Report from Chief Quality Officer Mary Mockerman. She reported that the local incidence of Influenza as lowered to the point that the requirement for un-immunized staff to wear masks while working has been suspended. The annual hospital Safety Fair is scheduled from April 28 through May 1, with topics to be covered including hand hygiene, common environmental hazards, population specific care and a fun quiz on HIPAA, national patient safety goals, infection control, The Joint Commission, and TeamSTEPPS requirements. A table top disaster exercise is planned for May 28 focusing on the hospital response to an Ebola outbreak, with actual isolation space set-up practices for the ICU and Laboratory planned for June. After giving reports on steps being taken on minor equipment issues and workplace injuries, Ms. Mockerman gave her OASIS Performance Improvement Report. She focused on two OASIS teams and their activities. The Cleopatra OASIS Team (Prior Authorization – Queen of Denial) goal is to improve the prior authorization process to minimize insurance denials. The Rubik’s Move OASIS team’s focus is using LEAN/Six Sigma methodology to move into and provide services from new and remodeled hospital spaces when the construction project allows such to occur. The current time frame indicates the move will take place sometime in October.
Mr. Griess made his annual appeal to the board for considering a donation to the Nebraska Hospital Association PAC. He thanked the board and hospital employees for donations in past years, which have resulted in BBGH being in the top three hospitals in the state in donation totals since the PAC’s inception in 2011.
He then gave an update on the construction project, reporting that work is on track, with the hospital’s second backup generator and three chillers put in place last week. Hooking the new pieces of equipment into the existing system is progressing well. Ground and cement work is in progress for driveways and parking at the new facility and inside finishing work continues to move along well. An issue with stains appearing on the lighter brick work is being addressed by the contractors.
After approving all credentialing requests, the board set the next meeting date and time for Tuesday, May 26 at noon in the BBGH Alliance Room due to May 25 being the Memorial Day holiday. As always the public is invited to attend.
With no further business, the board adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
