MMH to cut the cord with Banner Health IT services
Melissa Memorial Hospital will be making the transition away from Banner Health’s IT services, thanks to Banner’s unreasonably large price increase.
The change was approved by the East Phillips County Hospital District board at its regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 23.
The board approved spending up to $207,000 for a one-time project cost and up to $192,000 for the annual cost with an IT service vendor called Elevate.
Gabe Bazan, MMH IT director, was at Tuesday’s meeting to explain the details and present the vendors that were considered. He noted that they will be restructuring the local
IT department during the transition and will ultimately be in more control over some aspects of the IT system.
The change won’t happen overnight. It will likely be a three- to six-month process.
While it will be a nightmare at first, one good thing is that MMH staff members won’t have bannerhealth.com emails anymore.
“It’s just time for us to grow out of that nest and get our own system,” said MMH CEO Cathy Harshbarger. “It’s a big change.”
Paycheck Protection Program funds forgiven
The October financial report had a positive outlook after funds from round two of the Paycheck Protection Program were forgiven.
MMH Chief Financial Officer David Applewood said $3.5 million came in in October. Without the PPP forgiveness, October’s net income was $20,000.
Applewood presented two purchases, which were both approved by the board. He requested $13,000, which will be paired with $76,000 from the MMH Foundation, for a back-saving auto-loading cot, as well as $13,000 for four computers on wheels, which will help with workflow for nurses.
Applewood also shared preliminary budget figures with the board.
Harshbarger pointed out that she asked for wage increases so that no staff member will be paid less than $15 an hour in 2022. “I just don’t feel like that’s a liveable wage below that anymore,” she said.
Administrator reports
During Harshbarger’s administrator update, she brought the board up to speed on the vast number of job openings at the facility. One area of discussion was the need for local nurses, which would offset the use of expensive traveling nurses.
Harshbarger reported that $521,000 was received as part of the Hospital Transformation Program.
She also said MMH planned to get a new sterilizer Dec. 1, phase one of the chargemaster price reduction piece for patients started the day prior to the meeting and additional security cameras were to be installed at the facility soon.
Other business
In other business at the Nov. 23 meeting, the board:
— Heard a monthly Quality Committee report from Director of Quality Karen Hooker.
— Approved credentialing for Dr. James Yakel.
— Reviewed Goverance Policy 4.9 regarding self-monitoring of board performance.
— Noted there will be a special board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 8, at noon, and noted December’s regular end-of-month meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 4.