St. Luke Hospital board reviews remodeling plans for Prairie View
Staff reporter
The board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 were informed Thursday of plans to remodel a building leased by Prairie View Inc.
Richard Archer, vice president of operations for child and adolescent services for Prairie View, submitted correspondence to Thom Smith, St. Luke Hospital administrator, regarding the plans.
In the correspondence, Archer stated there was a need to revamp the entryway, located on the north side of the building to allow more privacy for patients at the reception desk.
According to the correspondence, Prairie View will assume the cost of remodeling and the hospital district will obtain the necessary permits and bids.
In other business:
— The board approved $216,888 in accounts payable.
Board member Peggy Blackman again encouraged hospital administration and staff to purchase locally as much as possible.
— Smith reported there was a possibility of a family practitioner assisting two to three days per week for 12 months at Marion Family Physicians clinic.
Discussions continue between Smith and a three-year medical student located at the University of Kansas Medical School in Wichita to locate permanently to Marion upon graduation.
— Negotiations also continue with Memorial Hospital of McPherson regarding a contract with a surgeon who would provide one-day per week services.
Blackman said she was concerned with patients being drawn to McPherson by the surgeon. Smith said he also had that concern and the surgeon would need to understand the conditions of the contract.
Current surgeon Dr. Stephen Cranston, has expressed a desire to semi-retire and discontinue his services to St. Luke Hospital patients.
— Discussion was heard regarding marketing of services. Smith said a marketing program must be established. He had researched marketing positions with hospitals similar in size. A job description has been written and in place should there be funds available.
On-staff personnel will start the program on a part-time basis, said Smith.
— Medical credentials were renewed for a weekend emergency room doctor, radiologist, and podiatrist.
— Smith reported the hospital was denied approval of community service tax credit allotment.
He said he was concerned with the funding of necessary equipment and made some suggestions.
The hospital's boiler could operate another year if pipes are cleaned at a cost of less than $5,000; the board could consider a lease/purchase arrangement for an anesthesia machine and CAT (computed axial tomography) scanner.
More information will be presented at a future meeting.
— The board recessed for a 10-minute executive session for personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the clinic basement.
