Physician recruitment, interviews continue
Staff reporter
A third-year resident student has been interviewed for a vacant position at Marion Family Physicians and St. Luke Hospital.
Administrator Thom Smith reported March 29 to the board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 that Dr. Jason Hample of Pennsylvania had expressed an interest in the facility and recently had visited Marion.
Smith said the applicant had family that lived in the area. The physician was scheduled to work a rotation at Wichita during May. Smith said he expected an answer within a week. Hample would be available in July if he accepted the position.
A second recruit being considered was from Wichita and was not interested in relocating his family to Marion. However he might be interested in an interim position.
Smith said the possibility of hiring a recruiting company still was a consideration if recruits were not located within a reasonable time.
In other business:
— The strategic planning consultant will meet with the board and specific hospital personnel at 7:30 p.m. April 13. The consultant will present an analysis from interviews with community leaders.
— Board chairman Gene Winkler reported the Lincolnville Clinic had sold to the City of Lincolnville. Board member Greg Bowers suggested an offer be made to the city for the district to share the expense of title insurance.
— Candidates for two new board positions have been identified and contacted. Bruce Skiles and Judy Reno have committed to being candidates. Board member Ken Vinduska who is completing Kevin Fruechting's unexpired term, also agreed to seek election to the board.
Other people have expressed an interest, Smith said, but have not committed to being placed on the ballot.
The election will be held during the board's annual meeting in May.
— A committee was established to review and finalize the board's bylaws. Members are Smith, board members Martin Tice and Peggy Blackman, and board secretary Cheryl Connell.
The committee will submit the document at the board's April meeting.
— Kevin Cronkleton, chief financial officer, reported January was a "favorable month" for the hospital.
A tax draw contributed to the successful month. A gross revenue of $775,000 was received. Budgeted revenue for the month was $693,000.
Revenue for February was favorable, Cronkleton said, however, expenses were more than anticipated.
March appears to be on budget, he said.
— Joe Picket, hospital compliance officer, reviewed the program. The board suggested a post office box be rented for reports of noncompliance from employees and the general public. Hospital personnel were approved for a committee which also included Vinduska as the board representative.
— Blackman suggested a board member be assigned to a department as a liaison for department heads and the board. This will be discussed when new board members are elected in May.
— A consent agenda was approved and included the report of a balance of $5,318 in the checking account for St. Luke Foundation and an ending balance of $103,042 in the foundation's investment account, and a report from St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary was a total balance of $10,064.
The board will meet at noon April 14 in the clinic basement to approve accounts payable.
The next regular board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 26 in the clinic basement.
