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Seven-year-old Bock hot water heaters are two years past their “useful life” and need to be replaced, North Shore Hospital Administrator Kimber Wraalstad told the hospital board.
Addressing the hospital board at the May meeting, Administrator Kimber Wraalstad told the board that beginning in late 2022 or early 2023, the hospital had been experiencing irregular error codes with the water heaters. After a service check, it was found that the combustion side of the internal heat exchangers was severely restricted, which caused incomplete combustion.
What followed was that Bock water heater #3 was completely inoperable. In addition, Bock heater number units #1 (laundry) and #2 (hospital and laundry backup) continue to have error codes and are a serious concern for the future.
When the hospital renovation was completed seven years ago, it was found in late 2022 that the combustion air intake, LP regulators, and LP had been improperly installed and needed replacing. Boldt, who had overseen the hospital renovation, and UHL, a company that installs and services boilers and building mechanical systems, modified the combustion air intakes and replaced the LP regulators and LP piping. Wraalstad said Boldt was involved with the repairs because they had been in charge when the improper work had been done.
“After speaking with Bock water heaters representatives and Boldt, it was stated that we were “lucky” the units have lasted as long as they did due to other known issues with their hot water units,” Wraalstad said, adding that Bock “expects a useful life of these units to be five years.”
While Bock won’t assist with replacing the failed water heaters, Boldt is in discussion with Peterson Sheet Metal, the original installer of the units.
UHL was consulted and recommended the hospital purchase AO Smith (best in class) brand hot water heaters to replace the failed Bock water heaters. The cost to remove and replace the water heaters is $117,022, which was approved by the hospital board.
In other hospital news:
Two months ago, when Sawtooth Mountain Clinic announced their doctors would no longer cover inpatient/swing bed and observation services at the hospital, the hospital began considering hiring a virtual service.
Fast forward, and the hospital has signed a contract with Horizon Virtual, a Minnesota company that provides internal medicine hospitalist services.
Training for nurses will be provided before the system goes live sometime in June.
Horizon Virtual will be available 24 hours daily to admit observation, inpatient, and swing bed patients. Additionally, they will provide support for providers, likely, said Wraalstad, the Emergency Department Physicians, who do rounds and discharge patients to the next level requested.
The equipment and cart that will enable virtual visits have been ordered by Horizon Virtual and arrived on May 26. CFO hired
After several interviews for the North Shore Hospital Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position and housing was found to be a challenge, the job was filled with the hiring of Lori Erickson. Erickson will start Jun 26. However, she is leaving the county Public Health and Human Services department, so her position there will need to be filled.
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