Hospital district approves electronic scheduling upgrades
Staff reporter
To prepare for the arrival of a new St. Luke Hospital doctor, the board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 approved the purchase of an electronic medical records system April 24.
The wireless and paperless system will reduce staff time in billing and coding information for Dr. Linda Skiles.
The system will cost the district $26,936. A receptionist, nurse, and provider will have the necessary equipment to enter the information.
Without this equipment, staff of the new provider would be required to use a handwritten date book to schedule patient appointments.
Refunds from Blue Cross Blue Shield will be used to purchase the equipment.
The board also approved an enterprise-wide scheduling program that would be another step up the data chain.
Chief executive officer Jeremy Armstrong told the board that the hospital did not need the computer module at the present time but would in the near future. Currently the hospital uses a notebook to schedule appointments with visiting specialists. With the purchase of this new program, scheduling would be available on any computer or system, physicians could see their schedules from home computers, and more people would be allowed to schedule procedures and visits.
The cost is $26,000. Armstrong said another option could be to purchase a $5,000 computer software package that isn't integrated with the hospital's network.
The board approved that purchase, 4-3.
In other business:
— Chief financial officer Hilary Dolbee presented financial information for March.
The amount of cash on hand had increased over last month by $28,811. The increase is because of collection of past due accounts.
Inpatient revenue is down substantially from the budget and previous month. This reduction in revenue is a direct result of the reduction in inpatient census days. Outpatient revenues are slightly ahead of budget for the year and $230,000 more than this time last year.
Total operating expenses are up 1.84 percent for the month and down from last month by $27,000.
The hospital's net income is slightly better than what was budgeted for the year and nearly 11 percent better than in February.
An increase in radiology visits has increased outpatient visits by 49.
— Linda Kannady, director of nursing, reported the hospital had received a $10,000 grant from the state bio-terrorism grant program. The funds will be used to replace four IV pumps.
— The board approved the hospital bylaws as presented. Medical staff bylaws will be reviewed by the medical staff before the board will approve.
— Armstrong reported that the hospital's roof soon will need to be replaced. The 20-year-old roof could be repaired for approximately $2,000 but eventually would need replacement. Cost estimates will be gathered.
— Names were recommended at a board retreat for a community task force. Letters will be sent to those on the list to see if there is an interest.
— The district's annual meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 22, followed by the regular board meeting. Election of officers will be held.
— Following two, 30-minute executive sessions for employee negotiations, the board returned to open meeting and approved the recommendation as presented which is to continue negotiations with two mid-level providers.
— The board returned to executive session for three minutes to discuss personnel matters. The board returned to open session and approved a salary increase for the hospital's information technology coordinator as recommended.
The next hospital board meeting is at 7 p.m. May 22 in the clinic basement.
