Box Butte General Hospital CEO Dan Griess received the latest architectural plans just a few hours prior to the BBGH Board of Trustees meeting held Thursday evening, December 20, and shared those plans with the trustees, stressing that while the concept drawing for the general shape and structure of the addition is very close to being complete, the inside design plan was still very malleable. “As a matter of fact, that’s been the favorite word of our architects this past week … malleable,” he said.
The structure will essentially wrap around the existing hospital, with a curved concourse fronting the building. Mr. Griess said this design helped meet two important needs. The current hospital has several entrances to the facility, too many according to community and hospital focus groups. The number of entrances causes confusion for visitors and patients alike. The concourse eliminates most of those, reducing public entry points to just three on the west side of the building: one to the emergency room, a main entrance to the hospital, and one to the Medical Arts Plaza, where the clinics are. The entrance to The Rehab & Wellness Center will remain at its current location on the east side of the hospital. Another concern expressed was way finding: the difficulty of navigating to various departments once inside the hospital. Mr. Griess said having the main outpatient health services fronting the concourse, much like store fronts in a mall, will eliminate most if not all of those difficulties, making it much easier for people visiting the hospital to find their way to the departments needed.
The first and second floor, as stated earlier, are all still very much in the conceptual stage, with extensive input planned over the next several weeks from medical staff and others.
Other agenda items the trustees addressed Thursday evening included the following:
The board recognized Mary Mockerman, RN-CIC, CSW, as the December Employee of the Month. Also recognized was Traci Clarke, LPN-C, for her accomplishment of being chosen by her peers as the 2012 Employee of the Year. IT Department staff member Mandy Greve was recognized for obtaining her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Business Management. Two new employees were introduced and welcomed by the trustees: Olivia Conley, a phlebotomist in the Laboratory Department, and Jennifer Jensen, an admissions clerk.
After unanimously approving the consent calendar, the board heard Special Services Director Mary Mockerman report on why the hospital instituted visitation restrictions the previous day. She said that while Gastroenteritis illnesses have been declining in December from the above average occurrences throughout November, the Panhandle area is experiencing an upsurge of influenza cases, with Box Butte County seeing the highest numbers. Multiple related hospital admissions have occurred and she said the hospital is experiencing some staffing shortages as well as a result. Consequently, no children under 18 are allowed to visit the hospital at this time. Children are allowed if they need medical treatment or testing. All visitors are not to visit if they are sick, unless in need of medical treatment or testing. She urged the public to wash hands frequently to lessen exposure to sick people and stay home and away from public places if sick. The public will be informed when the restriction is lifted. She also reported the hospital recently received notice of Accreditation from the Joint Commission, having submitted all required evidence of compliance for direct and indirect standards.
Chief of Staff Dr. Tim Narjes reinforced Ms. Mockerman’s comments on the flu upsurge when he reported having several of his patients test positive for influenza, with a few who had already received flu shots also testing positive. “However, those patients who received flu shots experienced much less severe symptoms than those who hadn’t,” he said. “So I strongly urge people who have yet to do so to obtain a flu shot as soon possible.” Dr. Narjes said Dr. Isom and others are researching having a special medication for multiple sclerosis patients provided locally. The medication has to be monitored closely and medical staff wants to make sure the right protocols are in place before proceeding. He concluded the medical staff “held a sendoff” for Dr. John Ruffing, who retires December 27 after 51 years of practicing medicine in Hemingford and at the hospital.
Controller Lori Mazanec had some good news in her November financial report. She said November closed with an increase in net assets of $342,000. While year-to-date patient service revenues are three percent behind budget, compared to one year ago revenues have increased by nearly $1 million. Deductions from revenue for November were $293,000 under budget, with an entry of $89,000 received from the 2012 cost report settlement. The hospital has yet to receive the State of Nebraska settlement of the 2011 cost report, which is approximately $325,000. November operating expenses were $62,000 under budget, with year-to-date expenses $367,000 less than expected. November’s operating income totaled $324,000, almost twice budgeted, and year-to-date operations have delivered a gain of $592,000, 28 percent ahead of budget. Adding revenue from non-operating sources, the year-to-date increase in net assets stands at $627,000, 24.1 percent higher than a projected $505,000 increase.
Mr. Griess presented the annual Board Member Self-Assessment, Board Assessment Tool and CEO Evaluation packets in quick succession, with the board asked to complete them by the indicated deadlines.
After unanimously approving all credentialing requests, the board set the next meeting date for Monday, January 28 at 7 p.m. in the Alliance Room, with the public invited to attend as always. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Despite about 4″ of snow and temperatures that were still in single digits when serving began, Chadron’s annual Caring and Sharing Community Christmas Dinner fed nearly 200 people.
