Grants show big dreams for hospital
“We’re going for the moon this year,” said Melissa Memorial Hospital CEO Trampas Hutches at the Tuesday, Jan. 24, East Phillips County Hospital District board meeting.
He wasn’t kidding.
With the help of a professional grant writer, the facility will apply for $1.679 million in grant moneys in 2017.
The hoped-for grant moneys would provide a boost to several areas within the clinic and hospital, with the list an exciting indicator of what 2017 could bring for MMH. The breakdown is as follows:
Emergency dept. paramedic program — $500,000
Optometry grants — $425,000
Call-light system — $210,000
Hispanic care coordinator — $164,000
Tele-ICU program — $120,000
Dental operatory equipment — $100,000
Chemotherapy program — $100,000
Emergency dept. portable ultrasound — $50,000
Wound care chair — $10,000
Total grants — $1,679,000
The grant writer hired has a 75 percent success rate, and their pay depends upon the success of the grant.
Ophthalmologist coming soon — along with cataract surgeries
In addition, Hutches informed the board at the Tuesday meeting that Dr. Michael Solomon, an ophthalmologist he worked with in Granby and Kremmling, will soon be contracted with MMH.
Hutches said the addition of Solomon’s services to those of MMH optometrist Dr. Tim Meyer will “complete the loop,” enabling in-house cataract surgeries.
Equipment for cataract surgeries with Solomon will be brought in on a per-case basis.
Pharmacy making deliveries — financially and literally
For another new area in MMH, it was reported at the board meeting that MMH Hometown Pharmacy, which has been open since Dec. 6, has already been making a positive impact on the facility’s bottom line.
In the 18 days that the pharmacy was open in December, it filled 337 prescriptions. From Jan. 2-24, it filled 435.
“It’s right on track for where we want it to be,” said Hutches. Financially, the pharmacy added $11,573 in a new revenue category for the month of December.
Board member Angie Powell commended pharmacist Amy Kleve, impressed with how aggressively she pursued insurance coverage for customers.
Hutches added that when he asked Kleve if she was ready to start taking on scrip deliveries around town, Kleve informed him that the pharmacy had already been providing that service.
EMS community meeting Feb. 8
Hutches also told the board that a community meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. in the clinic waiting room. He described it as a time to sit with community members, hear what they have to say and “take it on the chin” regarding MMH’s emergency medical services.
He also said it will be an opportunity to introduce EMS director Brady Ring and not only remember the past but discuss moving forward.
Hutches reported on progress made in the EMS department since Ring’s arrival.
Because of a lack of people and resources in MMH’s EMS in 2016, Wray’s EMS was usually called to make transfers to other hospitals. This happened 97 times over the course of the year.
Since Ring joined MMH, all transfers but one have been performed by MMH EMS to date, and four to five new volunteer EMTs have been added to the department.
The inability to perform transfers independently has been a big complaint about the EMS department, according to Hutches.
However, 2016 saw big improvements in EMS even before Ring. Response time (the time it takes for responders to get to the ambulance shed) improved from nine minutes in 2015 to seven in 2016.
On-scene time averaged 20 minutes in 2016, well ahead of rural Colorado’s average of 30 minutes. According to Hutches, this still isn’t good enough for Ring, who has set the 2017 goal at 15 minutes.
MMHF Legacy Event looking good
Ring’s influence will be felt at the MMH Foundation’s Legacy Event as well with a new auction item — two pediatric EMS bags worth $1,300 each.
Board chairperson Steve Young said in his MMHF report at the Tuesday meeting that Ring suggested making the bags requested for the EMS department auction items at the Legacy Event. The winning bidder for each bag will then donate the bag back to the hospital for use.
Young also said that attendance at the Feb. 11 Legacy Event looks promising. Tickets sold top 250 so far, which is more than last year’s attendance. He said that employees have stepped it up as well, with about 30 volunteer servers committed.
It was also reported that raffle tickets will be available at the event for a trip to New York, Napa Valley or Mexico.
MMH meets elusive AR goal
After nearly a year working to get the number of days in accounts receivable back in policy compliance, MMH finally made the mark as reported at the Tuesday meeting.
Gross days in AR is now within the 85 mark by less than half a day at 84.55, finally putting MMH in compliance with all points of the financial conditions and activities policy.
December’s revenue saw an increase of about $134,000 from November, although expenses also increased $117,000. Pre-audit, the year-to-date bottom line comes to $88,905 for 2016, with gross revenue topping $17 million.
MMH seeks CFO
Melissa Memorial is also in the process of seeking a permanent chief financial officer, as CFO Jason McCormick has been operating in more of a consulting capacity and controller Kurt Schueler has taken on a greater role.
Almost 40 applicants have been narrowed down to a pool of six to eight candidates for phone/Skype interviews. Those who “make the cut” from there will be brought out for on-site interviews.
Patient/family advisory council report
Hutches also told the board Jan. 24 that the preferred term for the quality committee is now “patient/family advisory council,” so the quality committee is changing its name to be consistent with the requirement for critical access hospital designation.
He went on to say that after a recent patient/family advisory council meeting, Neenan will be addressing the problem of being able to overhear things between rooms as a warranty issue.
The problem was a common complaint from patients and families. Other than that, they were very pleased with their experiences in the hospital.
“I asked them, ‘Why aren’t people coming back if everyone is so happy?’” said Hutches, referencing the lower-than-expected patient volume in 2016. “They all said it was just going to take a little time.”
MMH watches as Athena goes live in Springfield
The board also learned at the Jan. 24 meeting that the MMH administration is paying close attention as Springfield’s medical facility goes live with Athena, MMH’s chosen electronic health records system to be implemented this year.
In Springfield, 14 Athena representatives were present for the first two weeks, with four or five staying on for the entire first month. The facility is only having to pay for the reps’ travel and lodging.
Springfield is reportedly happy with the company so far, with the only hiccups being very minor issues.
MMH’s assessment date for Athena is scheduled for March 6, when Athena will look at the processes around different MMH functions.
Haxtun Hospital District will go live with Athena in April, and MMH anticipates going live in the fall.
Other business
In other business at the Jan. 24 meeting, the board:
—approved a resolution for banking authorizations for a new bank account with U.S. Bank for billings through the AthenaNet system.
—approved one new appointment, Ranie Pendarvis, M.D., in radiology; two reappointments, including Betsy Bronson, M.D., and John Wright, M.D., in radiology; and six regular appointments, including Barbara Blankenship, M.D., in radiology, Alicia Bennett, D.O., and Caitlin Oksienik, M.D., in teleneurology, and Brian Henry, M.D., Michael Kim, M.D., and Hugh Parker, M.D., in cardiology.
—held an 18-minute executive session for the purpose of contract negotiation and personnel matters. Resuming the open meeting, the board approved that Hutches negotiate the sale of the property at 440 S. Interocean Ave., which is now under contract.