The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors gathered for its monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18, during which CEO Brooke Bollman shared that Salem Memorial Hospital will be one of the founding members of a health network with several other independent hospitals.
In attendance included Bollman, board members Dr. Leigh Ann Price, Mike Swyers, Karen Brown, Zach Moser, and Frank Barnitz.
Bollman attended the meeting for the Missouri Independent Hospital Network at the MHA conference, in which several independent hospitals are coming together to form a health network to gain bargaining power for contracts, supplies, and services. Salem Memorial Hospital will be one of the founding members. There will be a kickoff meeting after the MHA convention with a fee to participate, but the savings are estimated to be significant.
“We think in the first 12 months, with some of the projections, we’ll be able to save around $180,000,” said Bollman of the network. “We’re excited about the opportunity and anxious to see where it goes.”
Cibolo will be the company managing the network, which will be negotiating the contracts with vendors. A board will be formed to make all of the decisions on behalf of the network.
More information will be released following the board’s formation, said Bollman.
CEO report
Bollman also noted in her reports:
• SMH is wrapping up its annual compliance and infection prevention training, due at the end of November for staff
• Revenue cycle improvement project is ongoing with a grant received to aid in its development, with a significant decrease in denials. The goal of a 75% reduction was identified, with 60% being reached last month.
• Cardiopulmonary equipment approved last month was delivered the day of the meeting, Nov. 18. Marketing materials are being pushed out to providers and surrounding patients.
• SMH will be bringing patient statements back in-house from ITX with a 60-day notice given. New statements will include a QR code for online payments with expected rollout in January.
• Discount and copay policies have been rolled out with staff training
• The mammography team raised $5,500 at its annual fundraiser in October
• Working on health insurance and 340B optimization to reduce premiums
• The hospital audit and cost report is nearing completion with anticipation that it will be filed on time Nov. 30.
• MU administrative team toured the hospital and met with several department leaders to learn more about SMH
• The SMH team have set-up their “Trees & Trains” tree at the ONCRC building
• Food drive is continuing to the end of November with items to be collected in the dining room
Upcoming dates and events:
• The first week of December will be the SMH Benefits Fair, while Dec. 9-10 will be the SMH Skills Fair
• Friday, Jan. 16 is the SMH Winter Ball at the Armory
Summary of operations
Staff are continuing to push marketing efforts to push revenue, said Bollman on the month of October.
• Inpatient admissions were at 46 with staff continuing to work at getting referrals for swing bed. There were 19 acute admissions for swing bed and 23 observation. Inpatient census days were at 117, slightly down from September (122.)
• Outpatient registrations were down in October at 1,094 compared to 1,180 in September. There were 904 cardiopulmonary procedures; 4,952 lab tests; and 986 radiology procedures. Rehabilitation treatments were at 551 in October, up from September (532.) The Rural Health Clinic was at 994, down from September (1,175.)
• Emergency room visits are still consistent, noted Bollman, at 633 in October compared to 629 in September.
Noted by Price was the fact that the month of October saw no one leave the Emergency Room Against Medical Advice (AMA.) Price commended the Emergency Department on its progress, which Bollman explained was the result of a focus group in quality and risk management committee meetings. CNO Amber Hogan also noted that the department has been focusing on communication with patients and keeping them informed of wait times.
Income statement
The month of October ended with gross patient revenue at $5.2 million. Fiscal year to date increases were observed in acute inpatient revenue, outpatient department, and clinic revenue, said Bollman. Allowances and uncollectibles are back up to approximately $3 million. Net patient revenue was approximately $2.1 million. Other operating revenue includes insurance reimbursements, coming to $373,000. Total operating revenue was reported at $2.5 million.
Operating expenses’ salaries and fringes for the month of October were down approximately $600,000 at $1 million.
Total operating expenses were reported at approximately $2.2 million, and net non-operating revenues at $88,544.99. The profit for the month of October was reported at $390,583.88. Days cash on hand was reported at 25.
October total revenue for 340 B was reported at $34,308.
The income statement was reviewed and approved by the board.
Chief Nursing Officer report
CNO Hogan reported that nursing staff are still down one paramedic, but the rest of the hospital is doing well. There are still two contract nurses within the hospital to ensure flexibility on the floor.
Med-surg nurses have been working on getting certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS.) A meeting has been held recently with physicians and frontline staff leadership to discuss patients the hospital is capable of taking care of and discussing ways to bridge the gap of education. Guidelines were developed and passed by Med Staff.
The EMT training program is ongoing with hopes of beginning clinical within the next couple of weeks. EMS provided standby assistance for the Honoring Our Heroes Marathon and also did a t-shirt fundraiser, successfully raising $1,200 for the department.
Hogan informed that five LPNs have signed up to do the certification class for LPN IV push within the next couple weeks.
The “Skillapalooza” Competency Fair will involve all clinical staff to discuss education.
Staff were invited to Viburnum to help educate fifth graders during an anatomy and physiology section of its class. The classroom was turned into an emergency department and students were informed of the ways a hospital runs.
Hogan attended the MHA annual conference to help represent SMH.
Human resources report
There were four new hires for the month of October, with four PRNs departing.
Quality improvement/risk management
Kendra Mobray reported that:
• New TORCH program manager Sarah Arnett is transitioning well and is establishing community partners and connections.
• A kickoff meeting was held for Practicing Excellence with a strategic planning session coming up Dec. 3. After, monthly sessions are planned with staff.
• Emerging leader applications have been opened with plenty of staff interested. Applications are still being processed with plans to add frontline staff.
• Risk management has been meeting every month to review event reports and have been discussing campus security improvements, including de-escalation training provided to staff by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office
• Root Cause Analysis Survey Readiness workshop was attended with a focus on being proactive
• The quality committee met and reviewed six months of data
• The LTC plan of correction was accepted with plans to follow-up within the next 30 days
• Mobray reviewed SMH’s online Prescence with the quality committee, commending SMH for its a four star rating within a 150 mile radius
New business
The board approved the following:
• several policies and procedures presented by department staff for annual compliance
• corporate compliance plan, originating from MHA
• Acute inpatient privileges for Charles Featherly, D.O.
