Facility updates have been ongoing at Greenwood County Hospital (GWCH), but within recent weeks the Rehabilitation department concluded its expansion. With expanding the department to include the former recovery room, the department was able to grow in space and equipment needs. Additional equipment items are planned to be added to the new space later this week. Currently, GWCH offers the following rehabilitation services: speech, occupational, physical, cardiac and pulmonary. For more information, call 620-5830511.
During their most recent board meeting on Aug. 22, the GWCH Board of Trustees conducted routine business. CEO Sandra Dickerson stated during her CEO report, that the rate reduction has impacted their cash flow significantly. She also referenced a turnover of staff in the Health Information Management (HIM) department. The turnover has caused an issue with coding services and the hospital is utilizing Great Plains Health Alliance (GPHA) to offload some of the responsibility. However, due to being behind and training new staff, the hospital is also utilizing another coding agency temporarily while adjustments are made. Dickerson noted she is hopeful to get coding caught up within the month. With the cash flow being impacted, she asked the board for $100,000 of board funds to meet GWCH’s financial obligations with vendor payments. The board approved the request.
Dickerson also shared that attorneys are working through the contract with GPHA for Cerner and the contract for pain management services, as well as the contract for Athenanet. The hope is to determine a way that GWCH can exit the contract and service and switch all services to Cerner.
GWCH’s third-party administrator, Benefit Management Incorporated (BMI), LLC, who oversaw their health insurance plan, has filed for bankruptcy. However, a new administrator has been secured. GWCH will begin using Auxiant as of Sept. 1.
Matt Morris with Forvis was unable to finalize his side of the audit and hopes to be at the September Board of Trustees meeting.
Discussion was also held regarding the Trane HVAC project. The chiller side of the project is completed, crews are now working on optimizing the system. The lighting project is complete with the exception of replacing 15 lights and the boiler project will be completed by October.
After a few employee falls, workman’s compensation attorney’s recommended concrete work be completed between the upper and lower employee parking lots. The hope is that this will reduce fall risks.
The Board of Trustees received board education from Dietary Director Kristi Deeder.
Other routine business included: approving the July 25 board minutes, the July treasurer’s report, July disbursements: payroll/ benefits, $1,005,715.39; accounts payable, $872,486.85; Appointments, Samuel Ornelas, MD, Radiology/Consulting; and Re-appointments, Michael Moore, APRN, Allied Health and Marcus Kater, MD, Radiology/Consulting.
The next meeting for the GWCH Board of Trustees is slated for Thursday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 p.m.
On Friday afternoon, Aug. 30, Senator Jerry Moran made an impromptu stop at GWCH. He is pictured below with CEO Dickerson.
(Courtesy photo)
