The Box Butte General Hospital Trustees met Monday evening, Jan. 31.
Practice Administrator Scott Alwin gave a report on the latest Press Ganey surveys for Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services (GNMSS) Hemingford and Hyannis Clinics. Both clinics received overall site ratings putting them in the 99 percentile rank when compared to all 9,638 Medical Practice sites surveyed by Press Ganey.
BBGH CEO Dan Griess presented the fourth quarter survey scores for BBGH. Environmental Services Department went from 78% to 95% in the fourth quarter, putting them in the 99 percentile of all 1,719 hospitals across the country surveyed by Press Ganey. BBGH is in the 99-98-97 percentile range in a number of other categories as well. Press Ganey represents nearly half of the hospitals in the United States. Their data base is huge, which makes it invaluable for comparative evaluation. If looking at these scores from an HCAHPS perspective, BBGH is one of the leading hospitals in the United States in patient satisfaction scores.
The board conducted the following business at their Monday meeting:
-- Recognized BBGH Dietitian Kristin Kesterson (who wasn't present due to a prior commitment) for being named the January Employee of the Month. Three Summit Award winners were recognized: Kitty McKee, Brian Kuhn and The Rehab and Wellness Center. Also recognized were Kaitlyn Plummer who completed registry in vascular technology; Valerie Beraun for receiving KHOP in medicine at the University of Nebraska-Kearney; and Health Professions Club member Trey Neeley (not present), who received RHOP in Pharmacy at Chadron State College. New employees were also recognized: Kaitlyn Plummer, Sonographer, RVT; Sean Eubanks, Rad Tech/CT; Lydia Kathurima, RN; Heidi Merrihew, RN; Kelli Dahlberg, Clinic Administrative Assistant, Elizabeth Garcia, Medical Assistant.
-- Unanimously approved the consent calendar.
-- Box Butte County RSVP Director Terry Grosz was present to ask for additional funding from BBGH to help defray $10,271 in cuts from the federal government. Ms. Grosz asked the board if it would consider providing $5,000 to RSVP to help cover the shortfall, $2,000 for fiscal year 2011-12, and $3,000 for the next fiscal year beginning in July. The board expressed its appreciation of RSVP and unanimously approved the request.
-- As part of the monthly Quality Management/Balance Scorecard report, BBGH Safety Officer James Koeteman gave a brief presentation on Safety goals, followed by Special Services Director Mary Mockerman mentioning the latest Nebraska Patient Safety Coalition Case Study example.
-- BBGH Controller Lori Mazanec informed the board that BBGH experienced its first loss for the fiscal year in the month of December. She said the month closed with a decrease in net assets of nearly $64,000. Year-to-date total patient revenues are on target at 0.4 percent behind the budget goal of $20.4 million and just over $2 million higher than a year ago. December operating expenses were $433,000 over budget, bringing the year-to-date expenses $194,000 over budget, or 1.4 percent. December closed with an operating loss of $77,000. The year-to-date operations have delivered a gain of $867,000, which is 22.3 percent behind expectations. Taken together with revenue from non-operating sources the year-to-date increase in net assets stands at just over $1,000,000, 14.1 percent behind the budget projection of $1,166,000. She also noted that for the year the Box Butte Health Foundation has given $60,000 to fund the cardiac telemetry unit and $3,300 for a blood bank refrigerator. Other receipts include a $3,000 grant from the Panhandle Public Health District for FIT testing equipment; $3,342 from the BBGH Auxiliary for a blanket warmer in nursery, $5,000 from the Regional West Foundation for replacement of EMS base station radios in the Emergency Department, and $8,558 in SHIP grant funds to cover additional purchases in IT.
-- Mr. Alwin reported that Stephen VanNoy, PA-C, joined GNMSS Family Medicine and will begin his practice at the clinic at the end of the current week. He will work under the supervision of Dr. David Isom. Electronic Medical Records has been set to begin March 20 for GNMSS clinics in Alliance, with the Hemingford and Hyannis clinics following soon after.
-- Mr. Griess presented a brief Governance Focus for the Trustees about attending a Governing Institute Program on March 30 in La Vista, NE. All board members were encouraged to attend.
-- Briefly touched on Safety, the hospital Value of the Month.
-- COO/CIO James Parks presented two strategic plan updates: Enhancing Buildings and Equipment and Advancing the Application of Information at BBGH. He also updated the Board on the status of the current electrical upgrade project. Mr. Parks said the Master Facility Plan has been revised to reflect the decision to explore a new building at BBGH, as discussed by Mr. Griess at the board's December meeting. Mr. Griess indicated the hospital needs to gather facts and educate the public before presenting options for a vote. Mr. Parks then presented goals established in the IT master plan.
-- Conducted its monthly credentialing requests, with all requests unanimously approved.
-- Entered into executive session to discuss a personnel issue at 8:32 p.m., and reconvened in open session at 9:41 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m. with no action taken.
The next board meeting will be held Monday, February 27, at 7 p.m. in the Alliance Room at the hospital. As usual, the public is invited to attend.
