Rooks County Health Center Board of Directors March regular meeting minutes

(The following article is taken from the unapproved minutes of the March 24th Rooks County Health Center Board of Directors regular monthly meeting.)

President Jeff Van Dyke called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. The other board members present were Charles Comeau, Michael Oller, MD and Jon Voss. Charles Allphin participated by phone. Also present were Frank Rajewski, Anthony Thomas, and June Karlin, recording secretary.

Jon Voss was appointed acting secretary for the board meeting.

Charles Comeau made a motion to approve the February 25th, 2020 regular board minutes as presented. Jon Voss seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. Motion carried 5-0.

Jon Voss made a motion to approve the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act and Paid Time Off (PTO) / Extended Illness Leave (EIL) policies. Charles Comeau seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. The motion carried 5-0.

Anthony Thomas provided the Communication & Development, Rooks County Healthcare Foundation and the Auxiliary Reports on behalf of Eric Sumearll.

Thomas announced Rookstock 2020 has been postponed indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus.

Anthony Thomas reported patient rounds were temporarily put on hold due to the novel coronavirus.

Thomas reviewed the results of the January 2020 Emergency Room, Observation, Inpatient, Outpatient and Surgical patient satisfaction surveys with the Board on behalf of Stephanie Bjornstad. Thomas noted the staff has done an amazing job of implementing new processes put in place to address COVID-19.

Thomas informed the board the quarterly regulatory reporting has been moved to a later board meeting due to the 10 person gathering limit put in place by the Stay at Home Order.

Anthony Thomas reported the COO Report was emailed by William Stahl. Thomas suggested delaying the first phase of the facility refresh until after the impact of coronavirus can be assessed. All outpatient surgeries and clinics have been suspended to conserve the hospital’s supply of personal protective equipment. Patients are being encouraged to come to the hospital for medically necessary services only so all other outpatient services such a lab, radiology and therapies have seen a decline in utilization.

The hospital staff is working on training and implementing policies that are specifically for COVID-19 patients. The physicians and nursing staff will be training with the nurse anesthetist and respiratory therapist on managing ventilator patients in the event there is a shortage of ICU beds at outlying facilities and we are unable to transfer a patient. We currently have the capacity to accommodate several ventilator patients.

Anthony Thomas provided an update on the nursing and clinical department activities.

Thomas announced Fort Hays University and Northwest Kansas Technical College will not be sending out students for clinicals at this time. The students will be participating in virtual labs instead.

Thomas noted Post Rock Family Medicine implemented a parking lot waiting room where patients wait in their cars until the clinic calls them. All visitors are going through a screening process and have their temperatures checked before entering the building.

Anthony Thomas discussed the Risk Assessment Tool the Risk/Security Committee developed to categorize RCH’s risks and assign each risk a threat level. The tool will be used to mitigate risk by putting controls in place to minimize RCH’s exposure. Thomas stated the email server change and the coronavirus data will be be added. When a decision has been made regarding the electronic health record it will be added as well. Charles Comeau made a motion to approve the Risk Assessment Tool as presented. Michael Oller, MD seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. The motion carried 5-0.

Thomas reported the hospital will implement a parking lot waiting room for outpatient services should cases of COVID-19 present closer to Rooks County. Per Thomas, Dr. Brull has been instrumental in implementing changes related to the coronavirus. Dr. Beth Oller has been broadcasting informational coronavirus Facebook live posts to the Post Rock Family Medicine page in an effort to keep the community informed.

Frank Rajewski presented the February 2020 Financials and Operating Statistics to the board members. The monthly gross revenue was $2,438,642.00 and year to date $4,841,643.00.

Rajewski informed the Board he is working on the USDA/Bond issue. According to the current information available, interest rates could be as low as 2.38% in the next four months.

Jon Voss made a motion to approve checks 51279 thru 51506 and online bank transfers found on page 14 of the board packet. Michael Oller, MD seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. Motion carried 5-0.

At 7:12 p.m. Charles Allphin made a motion to recess to executive session for ten (10) minutes to discuss bad debt. Jon Voss seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Anthony Thomas and June Karlin joined the executive session. The Board returned to regular session at 7:14 p.m.

Charles Comeau made a motion to approve bad debt as presented. Jon Voss seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. The motion carried 5-0.

At 7:15 p.m. Jon Voss requested a fifteen-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. Charles Allphin seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. Motion carried 5-0. Anthony Thomas joined the executive session. The Board returned to regular session at 7:25 p.m.

At 7:25 p.m. Jon Voss made a motion to adjourn. Charles Comeau seconded the motion. No further discussion took place. Motion carried 5-0.