The Salem Memorial Hospital Board met Nov. 21 for its regular monthly meeting.
Present were CEO Jason Edwards, CFO Doug Hoban, Hannah Harris, Mark Weaver and board members Wanda Tatom, Judy Thompson, Ray Bruno, Mike Swyers, Zach Moser, Dr. Leigh Ann Price and several hospital employees.
Summaries of operations and several other items were discussed. Conversation centered around the COVID vaccination policy for new hires and employees.
The federally-mandated COVID policy was instituted in November 2021 and updated in February 2022. The COVID vaccination policy was brought to the attention of the board in August of 2023. A motion was heard and failed in the August meeting.
At that time, board members Moser and Price added commentary to the discussion. Their recommendation was to maintain the policy, with exceptions. The CDC still maintains recommendation to vaccinate. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not required vaccinations since June 5, 2023.
Moser brought proposed policy guidelines to the board again Nov. 21. Close to 45 minutes of dialogue on the subject was heard. Several brought concerns over losing current employees. The board discussed letting the exemptions previously filed by employees stand with the new policy.
Debbie Gorman, who assisted in revising the current policy with assistance of the medical staff, will revise the policy for board review in the December or January board meeting. Gorman noted most physicians were against the mandated vaccination, according to notes from the medical staff meeting.
A motion by Moser, seconded by Tatom, stated, “Salem Memorial Hospital staff will be required to be vaccinated according to the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines unless they have a documented medical or religious exemption. Salem Memorial Hospital Employee Health will develop appropriate procedures to carry out this policy. Should ACIP update guidelines in the future to require revaccination, employee health staff will update.”
In other news:
• Hoban gave a financial report discussing the statistical summary of operations. Inpatient admissions were below budget for the month of October; outpatient registrations were over budget. The long-term care unit was full for the month of October. Emergency room visits were the lowest in recent history, according to Hoban, with 596 recorded, resulting in lower inpatient revenue. Net operating revenue totaled $1.978 million. The loss in operations revenue totals $309,395.
“We continue to play catch-up of the accounts payable and paperwork backlog,” said Hoban.
State Medicaid settlements were received in the month of October.
“The state of Missouri is usually behind a few years,” shared Hoban. The funds were from fiscal year 2019.
Asset totals were $14,299,915, down from $15,017,397 a year ago, for a loss of $717,482. Days of cash on hand including operating, foundation, special accounts, and more total 31.
• Clinic revenue and expenses were discussed. Moser asked for a more realistic look including all costs of overhead and indirect costs. CPSI does not break out all expenses, according to Hoban. The financial department will work on getting more accurate numbers for the clinic to present to the board.
Present at the meeting was Tina Pabin, interim clinic director and nurse manager, who has been with the hospital over 22 years. Chrissy Decker, who gave an extensive report on the clinic in August, is no longer with the clinic.
• Ashley (Sullins) Owen gave the chief nursing officer report. Staffing grids were discussed as they pertain to scheduling nursing staff. The maximum number of patients assigned to nurses does not exceed six. Tela Connors was hired as the full-time surgery director and will begin Dec. 4. Several other positions were filled, and more applications have been received.
• Proposed health insurance deductions were discussed for 2024. Edwards noted the insurance is expected to increase by approximately 35 percent. This would mean a 20 percent increase for the employee-paid portion. Swyers asked why there were no other quotes requested from additional companies, and why there was a delay in the reporting of this information.
• Two certificates of deposit matured on Nov. 12 at Town & Country Bank. The board voted unanimously to cash the CDs in and invest for another year at the rate of 5.42 percent with Town & Country Bank. Three other 36-month CDs are currently at Bank of Salem earning 0.7 percent and will mature in May of 2025.
During the administrator’s report Interim CEO Jason Edwards presented several items including:
• chaplain meeting was held and the pastors will be on a six-week rotation.
• transportation pilot program is being discussed to fill in gaps
• CLIA inspection was completed Oct. 30 and the plan of correction has been completed
• a draft report is in review for testing completed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Prior to the meeting, a special meeting was held at 4:30 p.m. for a Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program Presentation.
