“ I very much appreciate your support and confidence in me. Outgoing Hospital Administrator Diane Pearson ”
As of the August 19, 2010 North Shore Hospital and Care Center board meeting, the facility was at a $228,262 loss. Controller Yvonne Gennrich told the board that this is on target with the $500,000 loss anticipated in the budget.
July was “a very good month for us in the outpatient department,” Gennrich said, with $991,511 in revenue.
An anticipated employee health insurance increase of up to 14% for 2011 will be only 4.8%, Gennrich said. She thought it might be because Blue Cross knows hospital employees will be on the VEBA plan next year, a move that could save $100,000 on premiums. County Commissioner Jim Johnson explained that county employees are on the VEBA plan, which is like a medical savings account in which employee earnings are set aside to pay a fairly high deductible, keeping premiums down.
The hospital will receive $81,000 in reimbursement from Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust for its positive worker’s comp and property claim history this last year.
Pharmacy dispenser
considered
Diane Pearson, at her last board meeting as hospital administrator, reported that critical access hospitals are required to provide 24-hour pharmacy services. She suggested purchasing an automated cabinet that could dispense medication upon authorization of a pharmacist in a remote location.
St. Luke’s vice president Sandra Barkley explained that a nurse could send a medication request by computer to St. Luke’s, where a pharmacist would review the case record and enable the cabinet to dispense the necessary medication. Numerous small Minnesota hospitals have this system.
Gennrich estimated the cost would be $25,000-30,000. She said the hospital would need one for the emergency room and one for the hospital. The board passed a motion authorizing hospital administration to pursue the possibility of purchasing this system.
Organ donations
Nurse Bridget Sobieck informed the board that whenever a registered patient dies, the hospital is legally required to call LifeSource harvest bank. Thehospital also works with the Lions Bank. It cannot facilitate organ donations because of its distance from a facility that could harvest them, but it can facilitate donations of things like eyes, skin, and heart valves.
Tissues from just two donors at North Shore Hospital last year benefitted 185 different recipients, Sobieck said, and five eye transplants went to at least 10 recipients.
Equipment purchases
Pending favorable reference checks, the board approved purchase of a specialized bathtub costing $17,556.
Nurse Bridget Sobieck demonstrated a multi-purpose lift that can be used to move patients in bed, transfer them from bed to chair, help them walk, and even help get them out of a car.
It cost $8,000 plus the price of some accessories.
“I think it’s going to be a very nice complement to the equipment that we have,” Sobieck said.
Board member Kay Olsen said she appreciates being shown new equipment. Board member Sharon Bloomquist added, “When the new bathtub comes, we’ll have a pool party!”
Possible levy increase
Board member Tom Spence proposed paying for space in the Cook County News-Herald
for a lengthy letter he had written explaining why the board is considering increasing the levy threefold, from $425,000 to as much as $1.2 million.
Spence said he has not heard much feedback on the possible increase, but he felt the board owes the public an explanation.
Board member Ann Rosenquist took issue with Spence’s letter, saying she thought he included detail that people would not understand. “I think you’re taking transparency to another level,” she said. She stated that making levy decisions was their job as elected officials.
“When you’re talking about increasing a levy almost 300%,” Spence responded, “I feel people are entitled to know.”
“I think you’re just opening up a hornet’s nest,” Rosenquist said.
Kay Olson said she thinks some of the detail in the letter was hard to understand.
“Point well taken,” Spence answered. He said he’s been on the board for four years and still finds some of the issues hard to understand.
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic board member Joan Abrahamson said she thinks the board may have been remiss in not gradually increasing the levy over the course of several years.
Spence agreed, saying he thinks they dug themselves a hole. He admitted he had advocated to keep the levy low in past years.
Truth-in-taxation hearings will be held in the fall, board member Howard Abrahamson said, and the public has the right to ask questions.
Health care will continue to experience changes, Spence said, and challenges will continue, including upcoming needs for capital improvements now that facility renovations are 12 years old, an age at which many hospitals make repairs and replacements.
Theboard tabled the discussion until its next meeting.
Clinic board
Bev Johnson of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic board reported that the clinic is still searching for a new physician and is also hoping to find optometry and behavioral health providers. A grant is currently funding the services of a dietician.
Barbara Jean Johnson has been appointed to serve on the board in place of the late Frank Hansen. Losing Hansen, Bev Johnson said, was “a sad thing for all of us.” He was “a delight” to work with, she said.
Goodbyes to
Diane Pearson
Sawtooth Clinic director Rita Plourde thanked Diane Pearson for her years of service. “She’s been a marvelous colleague to work with,” she said. She and Pearson were both “big city people” who ended up here together for many years, a situation she considered “delightful. …It’s been my pleasure and my joy, Diane. Thank you.”
Sandra Barkley applauded Pearson for helping North Shore Hospital and St. Luke’s make a smooth transition to their new administrative partnership. She thanked Pearson for her leadership and welcomed her replacement, Kimber Wraalstad.
Pearson thanked the board for the opportunities she had been given during her more than 20 years at the hospital. “I very much appreciate your support and confidence in me,” she said.
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