January revenues good for hospital district
Staff reporter
St. Luke Hospital received more revenue than originally budgeted for the month of January.
The board of trustees of Marion County Hospital District #1 heard the report Thursday.
The budgeted revenue was $693,000, and actual revenue of $775,000 was received.
Salaries also were under budget by $14,000 with $244,000 in salaries actually paid.
Chief financial officer Kevin Cronkleton told the board that January revenue almost was sufficient to put the hospital in the "black" for the first time since the board assumed management responsibilities Oct. 1.
In other business:
— The board approved accounts payable for $193,101.
— A policy was approved by the board allowing appropriate hospital personnel to approve contracts up to $5,000 for normal operations.
— The district's auditor has recommended property currently owned by the district be transferred to the hospital foundation to maximize Medicare revenue. More research will be conducted before any decisions are made.
— A second employee may be hired to assist with patient billing. This should reduce the amount of time it takes personnel to prepare patient billing statements.
— Eileen Sieger of the hospital auxiliary reported total assets for the auxiliary of $11,681 as of Dec. 31.
Sieger also reported the auxiliary's next project will be the replacement of lobby furniture and carpeting. Other civic clubs will be asked to donate toward the project.
— Cronkleton said the hospital has not yet received Medicare and Medicaid provider numbers from the state.
He said the state will probably conduct a survey or inspection in the next couple of weeks before issuing the numbers.
BannerHealth Systems approved an extension to the district to continue to use the company's numbers through April 30.
— Hospital chief executive officer Thom Smith reported an application has been made for a $10,000 Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant. He anticipated the grant being approved and funds will be used for security requirements with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) issues.
Smith plans to contact Martha McKay of Via Christi Regional Medical Center of Wichita regarding her assistance with grant writing. Via Christi is the district's sponsor hospital for critical access status and has assisted with grant applications in the past.
— Smith reported physician recruitment was being conducted on a local level. Two weekend emergency room physicians were asked to consider applying for a position with Marion Family Physicians. Contact also was attempted with a third-year resident.
Smith has contacted recruitment firms but wants to exhaust all local resources.
— Meetings with a strategic planning consultant were planned for Feb. 23-25. The consultant will meet with residents within the hospital district.
Smith said there was a favorable response from community leaders who agreed to participate. He said he would like a public forum to obtain additional input.
A community analysis will be provided by the planner following the meetings.
— A decision will be made in the next 30 days regarding the hiring of a chief nursing officer.
Interviews also have been conducted for a physical therapist.
— Copies of proposed bylaws were distributed to board members. The bylaws previously were approved by the board but were not signed and formally activated.
Smith made some changes to the document. He asked the board to review the document and be prepared to make changes and approve it at the next meeting.
— The board's attorney had been contacted regarding upcoming board elections.
The appropriate Kansas statutes will be utilized, Smith said, with the election held at the annual meeting in May.
Candidates for the two new positions and an existing position up for re-election must live within the hospital district for a minimum of 30 days. Written ballots must be used. Nominations from the floor at the annual meeting will be allowed. Contact may be made to identifiable candidates by board members and hospital personnel.
Smith said a person currently under contract with the hospital also may be a candidate for a board position.
Anyone interested in being a candidate may contact Smith or Cronkleton for more information and to be placed on the ballot
— Joe Picket, x-ray department director, was approved by the board as compliance officer. Picket will choose a compliance team who will assist him with legal and regulatory requirements.
Picket will make regular reports to the board.
— The board approved a recommended agenda format with consent agenda items that can be approved with one motion and without discussion.
Regular monthly meeting dates have been changed from the second Tuesday to the last Tuesday of each month.
Quorum Health Resources, the management consultants for the district, also are consultants for an Emporia hospital. The change will coincide with monthly meetings for the Emporia hospital and make it more convenient and cost efficient for a QHR representative to attend both meetings.
A special meeting will be held each month to approve accounts payable and payroll.
The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the clinic basement.
