On Thursday, September 17, the North Shore Health hospital board decided not to raise the levy for 2021, voting to keep it at $1.3 million.
The hospital board can lower the amount of the levy request, but it can’t raise it. The final levy must be set before the end of 2020.
Under new business, the hospital board received an operational, financial assessment from Eric Shell and Dan Givens of Stroudwater Strategic.
Before COVID-19, North Shore Health Hospital Director Kimber Wralstad said, “We had been working with Stroudwater Associates on a Strategic Operation Final Assessment. We had the opportunity to meet with Eric Shell and Dan Givens to begin a discussion of the Assessment. Nothing surprising, but it did generate discussions about the future and what health care reimbursement might look like in the future. We also had a brief presentation from Bruce Meade at Edward Jones to discuss our investments. As a government entity, our options are limited, but when possible, we do try to maximize our investment returns.”
North Shore Health Financial Director Paul Goettl presented the August 2020 financial report. Coming on the heels of the July report that showed a year-to-date loss of $145,000–$707,000 better than budget—and 255 days cash on hand, the August report was similar.
Goettl also met with department managers to review capital requests, volumes, revenues, expenses, and full-time employees. The information will be reviewed with department leaders, and the administrative team and then a draft budget will be presented at the November hospital board meeting.
Indoor visits
Following protocols established by the Minnesota Department of Health, indoor visits with nursing home residents began on September 21. Appointments for visits must be made before one goes to meet someone in the care center. Call 218-387-3040 to set up an appointment. It was noted that Skype, Facetime, and Zoom visits would also continue at the care center.
Director Wraalstad said fourteen people have completed Essential Caregiver training and demonstrated competency with hand hygiene and other criteria.
Kimber reported that Mike Flack, who does the ordering for the hospital, said the gloves’ price had gone up forty percent. He recently ordered 104 cases of gloves, which are expected to arrive mid-November.
For the last six months, representatives from North Shore Health, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, and Cook County Public Health and Human Services have met to prepare, plan and respond to COVID-19. With core people from each organization, the Incident Command team continues to meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with breakout sessions and special meeting.
Essentia Health Pharmacy
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic has an agreement with Essentia Health Pharmacy to have prescriptions filled and delivered to Cook County, reported Wraalstad. Two options are available; patients can select to get their prescriptions filled though Essentia Health Mail order or through Essentia Health Silver Bay Courier. Orders through the courier can be picked up Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. People with questions can call Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 218- 387-2330 and ask for the refill nurse.
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