Archive for 2022

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met in the hospital library Tuesday evening. New hospital CEO Wayne Reid gave the Administrators Report and said the new CT placement began this week and the unit should be operational by next week. He said the transition from using Quest to LabCorp as the primary specialty lab has begun with Quest still being used for some insurance purposes. The hospital began onboarding with CHC/HPG as the Group Purchasing Organization which will allow smaller organizations to join together to get the best prices on a variety of contracts and supplies potentially saving the hospital $500,000 to $600,000 per year. The hospital recently had a STEMI Survey and a Mammogram Survey with results showing no deficiencies. The new ambulances are currently getting new sign wraps installed. In the summary of operations for the month of August, the hospital had 76 inpatient admissions with 308 inpatient census days. There were 153 census days of swingbed with an average length of stay of almost 13 days. During the month, there were 650 emergency room visits with 235 ambulance runs where 155 patients were transported. In August, there were 29 surgical procedures cases, 1,167 outpatient registrations, 4,101 lab tests, 1,145 radiological procedures, 706 rehab treatments and 146 home health visits with 16 home health admissions. Reid presented a list of patients that were transferred from SMDH to other facilities and the reasons why. This document will be used to track patient transfers. CFO JoeAnn Hammond stated the hospital showed a loss from operations for August of $369,308 with an Excess of Expenses over Revenues of $367,129. The days cash on hand dropped to 53 with $4.1 million total cash. Hammond presented a list of vendors whose payable accounts range from 33 to 82 days. The staff is currently renegotiating several vendor contracts to make the payable timeframe at 30 to 45 days max. Insurance accounts receivable are currently 35.7 days and self-pay is 39.7 days and the hospital would like to see those numbers be smaller. The hospital recently changed their vendor that is used for debt collection back in July. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins gave the Director of Nursing report. She said as of Tuesday, there were 17 positive COVID-19 cases in Dent County with a 50% positivity rate and a high transmission rate. There were 10 employees out with COVID in August. She gave an update on the Med Surg and Emergency Department staffing with lab hiring being a priority. She said Dr. Neely and Sandra Neely started in the clinic on September 1st. With Tiffin Felkerson now serving as the Delta Regional Authority Grant Community Champion as well as assisting with marketing, Tina Pabin is the new Interim Director at the Clinic. It was reported the hospital has hired new phone operators to help with incoming calls and faxes. The hospital foundation will meet on October 5th. Don Babb gave the Chief of Staff report. They tabled courtesy privileges for Dr. Mark Brecheisen, D.O. and reported Dr. Edward Downey from USA Radiology has resigned. The hospital has employed Esterly Schneider Associates, Inc. to begin design work for rerouting the kitchen drain at a cost of no more than $15,000. The MHA Conference will be held November 2nd through the 4th at the Lake of the Ozarks and a Strategic Planning Retreat will be held the first week of December. The new Finance Committee members are Wanda Tatom and Willie Strader with AJ Seay as Chairman. The board then went into closed session.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation and the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will hold a native plant sale this Saturday at 601 N Hickory Street in Salem from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Native plant vendor, Gaylena’s Garden, will sell native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, vines, shrubs, and trees. Five percent of plant sale proceeds will be donated to the Bonebrake Center. Shoppers can stroll through the sale and purchase plants. Gaylena’s Garden will accept only cash or checks at the sale. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own crates or boxes for bringing their purchased plants home. Shoppers can also pre-order plants and have their orders ready for pick up at the event. When placing your pre-orders, please include your phone number and note that the order is for the Bonebrake Center sale in Salem on September 24. You can see the list of plants at the Gaylena’s Garden Facebook page and then and email order to gaylenasgarden@gmail.com by this Friday at noon. It should be noted that 5% of sales made will be donated to the Bonebrake Center.

An accident happened Tuesday evening at around 7:40 in Phelps County on Highway KK about a mile east of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja being operated by 44-year-old Keith Griffin of St. James was being pursued by a Crawford County Deputy when he failed to negotiate a curve, then traveled off the road and overturned. Griffen was taken by Phelps Health Air to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of minor injuries. The Kawasaki had extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. Griffin was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening in the R-80 Board Room. After the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda, communications were heard including an update by Sheman Odom on the Technology and Construction Trades Building fundraising efforts. In the Superintendent’s and Assistant Superintendent’s reports by Drs. Reed and Wills, it was reported that site work will begin on the Tin Gym once permits are issued and 85% of the HVAC work is completed around the district. It was noted that eleven staff members completed enrichment grant applications, which focused on the social emotional health of R-80 students. The board was told instructional coaches are currently working their way through every classroom in the district doing a very informal needs assessment and are sending out a survey of staff to determine what specific needs they have. Dr. Wills gave a preliminary update on MAP/EOC scores, and Dr. Reed informed the board of a preliminary meeting with Missouri Capital Asset Advantage Treasury. Dr. Reed also updated the board on R-80’s social media and branding upgrades as well as update on the district’s website design which will include a staff directory with photos. In new business, the board approved the Construction Trades building request for quotes, approved HTK Architects for the initial pre-bond work for a new elementary school, approved the Special Education Compliance Plan, and also approved the bus routes for 2022-2023. Resignations were accepted from Paige Aguilar, Emmogene Welch and Sandra Lakes. Chris Jessen submitted a letter of retirement. The board then went into executive session where Stacy Tiefenthaler was approved as the custodial night supervisor and Jamie Tomnitz as assistant band director.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon just before 3:00 in Dent County on Highway 32 about 15 miles east of Salem. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2022 Freightliner being driven by 40-year-old Gabriel Amor of Riverview, Florida was eastbound when he traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. Amor had minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Freightliner was totaled and secured at the roadside. The report went on to state that Amor was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, Safe Kids Worldwide, and other safety advocates to commemorate National Child Passenger Safety Week, now through the 24th. Every year, children suffer needless injuries. In 2021, 14 children under the age of eight were killed in traffic crashes, and another 1,749 were injured. Troopers issued citations to 1,185 drivers who failed to secure children less than eight years old in a child restraint or booster seat in 2021. Troopers issued citations to an additional 184 drivers who failed to secure a child 80 pounds or more or over 4’9” in a seat belt in 2021. Missouri law requires children less than four years old are required to use an appropriate child passenger restraint system. Children less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for the child. Children ages four to eight years old who weigh at least 40 pounds, but less than 80 pounds, and are under 4’9” tall, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child. Children ages eight through 15 must wear seat belts regardless of the type of vehicle in which they are riding or where they are seated. Like the child restraint law, this is a primary law, meaning you can be pulled over by law enforcement for noncompliance. Persons less than 18 years of age operating or riding in trucks, regardless of gross weight for which licensed, must wear seat belts. No person under age 18 is allowed to ride in the unenclosed bed of a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than 12,000 pounds on lettered highways, federal, state-maintained highways, and within city limits. There are exemptions for agricultural purposes, special events, and parades. There are many styles of child safety seats from which parents may choose. Infant seats are designed for children up to 22-30 pounds depending on the seat manufacturer. This type of seat should be placed into a vehicle so the infant faces rearward in a semi-reclined position. It is important to remember rear-facing infant seats should NOT be used in a front passenger seat equipped with an active air bag. If deployed, an air bag could hit the infant seat and injure or kill the baby. Airbag or not, the back seat is the safest place for a child. For safety reasons, the Missouri State Highway Patrol discourages the purchase of child safety seats at a garage sale or other secondhand outlets. Also, a safety seat that has been in a vehicle during a traffic crash should be replaced. There is no one “safest” child safety seat. Use the one that fits your child, fits in your vehicles correctly, and one that you will use correctly every trip, every time. For more information about the proper use of child restraint systems or to schedule a child safety seat inspection, contact the nearest Missouri State Highway Patrol troop headquarters and ask for the public information and education officer, or visit www.seatcheck.org.