The Kiowa County Hospital District and County Board met in regular session on February 28, 2017 at 6:32 p.m. at the Bank Meeting Room. 

District Board members present were: Robert Woods, Mary Eikner, Sylvia Shields, Priscilla Waggoner and Cathryn Anderson. 

County Board members present were: Kim Harris, Craig Kerfoot, John Negley and Dennis Pearson. Absent: Lori Shalberg 

Others present: Shannon Dixon, Dreama Buck, Tanya Lane, Ginger McPherson, Renay Crain and Cindy McLoud. 

The meeting was called to order by Mary Eikner, Chairman of the Board. 

COUNTY VOTING MEMBERS: Harris, Negley and Pearson 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made to approve the January 24 and February 15 minutes as amended by Pearson and Harris seconded it. All aye. 

AGENDA: Add Freezer, Hospice and Foundation. A motion was made by Negley to approve the Agenda as amended and it was seconded by Shields. All aye. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

FINANCE COMMITTEE: The January financials were reviewed. We had a profit for the month. We have collected a lot of the AR in February so this should show some improvement by the end of the month. We also received MU incentive money from Medicare in the amount of $497,214.71. We currently have 2 swing beds and 15 ECU residents. 

PLANNING COMMITTEE: No report. 

GRANT COMMITTEE: An email from Emerald was reviewed regarding the CT project. The project is 95% complete. The underground fire sprinkler system has been installed and connected to the Hospital. The inspection is scheduled for March 2. The interior is almost complete. There is still some work to be done regarding the fire alarm system. GE will be delivering the CT March 21 and it should be ready to use by March 27. Training is scheduled to begin March 27. The first quarter report to DOLA will be submitted by March 31. The final reports for DOLA, Caring for Colorado and El Pomar must be completed by May 30, 2017. 

Wendy and Eunice went before the grant committee for the Telemetry and Glidescope last Thursday. We have been approved for the financial waiver. So, we will need to pay ten percent of the project ($10,000). Kiowa County National Bank has donated $6,000. They would like to make this in three yearly installments of $2,000. So, we will need to pay the full $10,000 and then be reimbursed for the rest and find the other $4,000 somewhere else. A motion was 

made by Shields to go ahead and pay the $10,000 and recoup the $6,000 from the Bank and try to find someone else to donate the $4,000 and Pearson seconded it. All aye. 

A grant request was submitted to Cooper Clark for $5,162 to help pay for the certification courses for our providers for “Fast Exam” in ultrasound. The request included the course itself along with Provider pay time and locum pay time coverage. Cooper Clark granted us $2,000 for this project based on received notification how we would be paying for the remaining $3,162. We could use the Memorial fund to pay for this expense. A motion was made by Waggoner to use Memorial funds to pay the $3,162 for the Fast Exams and Shields seconded it. All aye. 

CLINIC REPORT: Eikner stated that the Clinic had their Annual Meeting last week and it went well. Lacy Lawrence is certified to do retinal screenings for diabetic patients. Another clinic is no longer doing them and she will call to see what they would sell their equipment for. This would be another source of income. 

CREDENTIALING 

None. 

POLICIES & PROCEDURES 

We have the Central Supply and Pharmacy for review this month. Dreama Buck presented her policies. There are no changes for Central Supply and Pharmacy made changes for their new room. These have been approved by the State Pharmacy Board. A motion was made by Waggoner to approve policies presented and Shields seconded it. All aye. 

OLD BUSINESS 

PROVIDER RECRUITMENT: Korrell had an email from Arthur Marshall stating that they had a candidate and would be sending information to us. 

HOSPICE: Shields talked to Hospice about attending one of our board meetings to talk about services they provide. We currently do not have a contract with them. We have had some issues with them in the past with a resident’s care. Discussion followed. We will invite them to the March board meeting and have the Director of Nursing and Social Services Director attend also. 

NEW BUSINESS 

ECU & HOSPITAL REPORT: We had one med error, one fall and one infection in ECU. There were no Hospital acquired infections. ER chart review showed med reconciliation upon discharge needs to be done consistently by providers. Three psych chart reviews were completed. No official occurrences or grievances were reported. 

Our Social Services Director will be taking End of Life Training to be certified in this type of service for our ECU and hospital patients last days. 

We are doing ACLS classes to get everyone renewed on their certification. 

The resident Valentine’s party was a success with 65-70 people in attendance. The Health Fair is scheduled for March 24 and 25. 

Medicaid revalidation is submitted for all providers and billing entities, including new NP. New Health First Colorado (formerly Colorado Medicaid Program) will go into effect March 1, 2017. 

Letters to Legislators were sent out last month asking for attention and support for the Hospital Provider Fee and not cutting it. CHA emailed and asked to use KCHD’s letter as an example letter for other hospitals needing direction on how to effectively lobby without crossing lines. 

Apartment Reno has begun, starting with Apartment 3 that will be used by Docs Who Care. They have approved the list of improvements. 

Spanish Peaks will be visiting us soon, so they can see how our ECU works. They have gotten their Medicaid numbers for this and want to see how it works in a facility. 

Stephanie Green obtained her official numbers to practice in Colorado as a Nurse Practitioner on February 15. She is now seeing patients. Chamber After Hours will have a meet and greet with Stephanie on March 8. 

FREEZER: Ginger McPherson, Dietary Manager, stated that their chest freezer is not working properly and needs to be replaced. She currently has the chest freezer and two stand up freezers that are not commercial appliances. One freezer is located outside of dietary. She would like to purchase an upright three door freezer ($6,076) to replace all three of the others. The other option is to purchase a two-door upright freezer ($4,318) to replace the chest and one upright. She would still have the other upright located outside of dietary. Both units will fit in the dietary locked pantry. The two old upright freezers can be sold also. A motion was made by Shields to purchase a three-door upright freezer to replace all three old ones and Anderson seconded it. All aye. 

FOUNDATION: Kerfoot suggested that we might consider creating a Foundation. This would be a good place for people to make donations. Eikner will talk to our attorney to see what needs to be done to create a foundation. 

OTHER 

Waggoner mentioned another idea for advertising. The little popups on your email can be a good way to advertise. She will get more information about this. 

The Clinic sent a thank you to the Board for the cost of living raise. This will not take effect until July. 

A motion was made by Anderson that we go into executive session to consider personnel matters pursuant to and as permitted by CRS 24-6-402(4)(f)(I) and Shields seconded it. All aye. 

Executive session was convened at 7:59 p.m. 

The meeting was returned to regular session at 8:59 p.m. 

A motion was made by Waggoner to accept Tristen Sheridan’s resignation as CEO and Negley seconded it. All aye. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:09 p.m.