Archive for 2021

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Director’s meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. In the summary of operations for the month of November, the hospital had 88 inpatient admissions with 279 inpatient census days. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $425,801 and had an excess of expenses over revenues of $424,511. During the month, McKesson Suppliers who provide supplies for the lab department, were going through a transition so the hospital had to pay for two months of supplies that came to near $160,000. During the month, there were 635 emergency room visits with 54 admissions, plus there were 204 ambulance runs where 142 patients were transported. In November there were 27 surgery cases, 1,520 outpatient registrations, 7,283 lab tests, 1,142 radiological procedures, 686 rehab treatments and 181 home health visits with 12 home health admissions. The Long-Term Care Center currently now has 17 residents with one vacancy remaining. The days in account receivable during the month went up to 69 days from 65 in October and was down from the 103 days last November. The days cash on hand went down to 46 days and there was a cash decrease during the month of $151,754. Chief of Nursing Ashley Sullins gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity was 20 with an average of nine patients per day. Sullins reported that as of December 13th, there were 74 active COVID cases in Dent County. Sullins said Dent County is currently showing 30.1% of the residents are completely vaccinated and 33.8% have initiated the series. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas said the hospital continues to monitor Paylocity as part of the Cerner Conversion. The Cerner working timeline has Integrated Testing 3 scheduled for January 11th, 12th and 13th for the clinical portion; and January 18th, 19th and 20th for the financial portion with the “go-live” date set for March 14th. The hospital submitted their plan of action for the CLIA Survey but had to discontinue most of the lab testing on December 3rd as CLIA did not accept the plan of corrections at that time. Working with A & J Consultants, the hospital has implemented new policies and procedures, implemented needed educational requirements for all technicians, implemented new quality assurance equipment and software for documentation of oversight, plus implemented new chemistry and coagulation equipment. On Monday, the hospital reinstated time critical lab tests for the Emergency Department and the Medical and Surgery Department. The hospital continues to make progress toward getting the entire lab back online. The issues that affected the lab were disorganization and that the equipment needed updating and repair which is currently being done. The hospital has purchased other equipment that meets the quality assurance protocol they are using now for the tests. Lucas said there is one candidate who has registered for District 3 Board seat to date with the final day to sign-up being December 28th at 4:00. The seat is currently held by Dennis Fiebelman. The board approved a Board Resolution for Financial Transactions to sell some stock that the hospital had since they had a retirement plan with MetLife. The resolution will allow them to sell the stock from the Hanover Insurance Group, Brighthouse and Computershare, Inc. Lucas reviewed the vaccination mandate timeline with the board as no further court action has taken place on that matter. In new business, the board approved three non-budgeted purchases including the purchase of a refurbished colonoscope from Olympus America for $20,577.50, the purchase of the Point-of-Care Lab Analyzer from Abbott Diagnostics for $11,121.33, and the purchase of two Chemistry Analyzer-Piccolo Express for $15,300 each for a total of $30,600. All the purchases have a one-year parts and labor warranty. The board then spoke with Diane Godi who was in attendance about the problems with the lab to get a better understanding of how the lab works before going into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education regular meeting will be held this evening at 6:00 in the high school library. After approval of the consent agenda and approval of all previous minutes the board is expected to approve bills, the food service report, attendance report, substitute list, and program evaluations. Ken Shultz will then present the audit report for approval. The board will then hear principal’s reports from William Lynch Elementary, the upper elementary, middle school, and senior high, along with a report from the athletic department. New business is expected to include the selection of the MSBA Belcher Scholarship recipient, the MUSIC renewal, the declaration of surplus property and to consider the SRCSP revisions. The board will then go into closed session. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday night at 9:17 on Route J about a mile west of Oates. According to the highway patrol, a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven eastbound by 69-year-old Virginia Graham of Boss, crossed the centerline and struck a 1999 Lincoln driven westbound by 74-year-old Donald Barton of Boss. Graham suffered serious injuries and was transported by Survival Flight to Mercy St. Johns’ Hospital. Neither Graham nor Barton wear wearing seat restraints. The Chevy was removed from the scene by Blackie’s Auto while the Lincoln was removed by Dement’s. A Reynolds County deputy assisted at the scene.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the final sales tax monies received by the county for the 2021 year. For the General Revenue Fund and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund in December, the county received $93,008.11 which was $9,363.27 more than the $83,644.84 received in December 2020. For the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $44,090.87 and that was $4,319.49 more than the 2020 figure of $39,771.38; and in the Jail Operating and Trust Funds, the county received $88,169.41 for the month of December and that is $8,618.82 more than the $79,550.59 received in December of 2020. Overall, the county funds are down between 23 and 27% from the funds received from a year ago due to the Department of Revenue sales tax blunder that the county has had to pay for. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6580 while only grading would be done on county roads 5380 and 6190. Mobray said he would be attending a City of Bunker Council Meeting tonight. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson had a meeting to attend at 9:00 and was unable to give the road report so Travis Turner gave it for him. Turner said grading was going to be done on county roads 2130, 2270, 2403, 6120 and 6140. He further stated brush would be cut and materials would be added on county road 2370. Turner went on to say a new fuel tank was being installed on county truck #116. Larson arrived after the road reports were presented. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday at the MRPC office in St. James. Skiles said the entire region voted on their transportation priorities for the upcoming year to be presented to MoDOT. Skiles said the top priority again this year was the replacement of the low water crossing on Route TT in Sligo with a bridge. He also said the Highway 32 bridge at Boss over the Huzzah Creek came in 4th in the scoring. Skiles said at the MRPC meeting held Thursday night, they prioritized their federal and state needs and then received an update from the Department of Economic Development. Skiles went on to say he would probably be attending a County Commission Association of Missouri Executive Board meeting on Friday in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of November. She also said she would be addressing some art classes at the Salem High School to inform students of a contest to create a new “I Voted” sticker that would be used for the next two years. This is the first time this is being done in Dent County. The winner of the contest will be recognized at all the voting locations and through the local media. Also at the meeting, Sarah Massengale and Dru Howard from the extension brought in their budget request for 2022, and David Massengale from the US Forest Service came in to discuss Title II funds. The next commission meeting will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their December meeting tonight at 6:00 in the hospital library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of November as well as the auxiliary report, followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards will give the hospital foundation report as well as the marketing and community perception report. In old business, Lucas will update the board on how COVID-19 is affecting the hospital, give a report on the Cerner conversion, discuss the CLIA survey and talk about the District 3 board seat becoming available in the upcoming April election. In new business, the board will discuss any purchases. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Business Window Decorating Contest judging was held over the weekend. After all the scores were tallied, Steel Magnolias in downtown Salem on 4th Street was named this year’s winner of the $250 Grand Prize.