News – Friday, January 30th 2026

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held its regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library. The agenda was approved; however, approval of the meeting minutes was tabled pending revisions. During the review of departmental policies and procedures, approval of the infectious disease policies was tabled until the next board meeting, pending updates and clarification of the hospital’s employee vaccination policy. All policies and procedures were approved, with board member Zach Moser casting the sole dissenting vote. With no public comments or scheduled presentations, Hospital CEO Brooke Bollman presented her report. She highlighted the hospital’s participation in the Rural Health Partnership Institute hosted by Stroudwater, as well as informational meetings with the Missouri Independent Hospital Network. Bollman also provided updates on marketing and recruitment efforts and the Helping Hands Auxiliary program. Bollman reported that filing for the hospital’s board of directors election closed on December 31, 2025, with Karen Brown duly elected without opposition to represent District One. Brown is scheduled to be sworn in on April 28, 2026. Bollman also noted that beginning February 1, 2026, the hospital will revert to in-house billing. For the month of December, the hospital recorded 60 inpatient admissions, 952 outpatient registrations, 544 emergency room visits, and 187 ambulance runs, all of which were down from the previous month. Total operating revenue for December was approximately $2.2 million, while total operating expenses were about $2.6 million. Postage and freight expenses increased significantly, totaling $7,239.51 in December, up from $3,356.02 in November. Bollman attributed the increase to tariffs and indicated that these costs are expected to continue rising. Overall, the hospital reported a deficit of $356,914.66, marking the second consecutive month with a deficit. Bollman stated she is actively working with financial staff to identify solutions. The hospital currently has 20 days of cash on hand. Net 340B revenue for December totaled $44,625, representing a decrease of approximately $66,000 from the previous month. Following approval of the financial reports, Chief Nursing Officer Amber Hogan presented her report, which included updates on the EMT-B program, implementation of a new MedSurg acuity tool, nursing defensive documentation training, and medication drip protocols. Hogan reported that the Long-Term Care and Emergency Department are fully staffed, while vacancies remain in EMS and MedSurg. In December, the hospital recorded five new hires and four departures. During the Quality Improvement report, Kendra Mobray stated that the hospital’s focus for the first quarter of 2026 will be improving patient care and safety. Under new business, Bollman provided an update on the hospital’s five-year strategic plan. A vote on the plan was tabled until the next meeting pending the addition of a clearly defined mission statement. The board unanimously approved hiring a recruitment firm to fill the Lab Director position. No specific firm was named, and Bollman was authorized to negotiate with multiple firms and select the one deemed to be in the hospital’s best interest. After approving medical staff privilege reassignments, Bollman reported that she has been researching grant opportunities through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that could allow the hospital to provide childcare allowances through reimbursements. She also stated that legislators have requested the hospital develop a priority list for capital improvements and infrastructure needs. Bollman plans to hold future discussions with staff to identify priorities and determine the best use of potential funding. With no items to discuss in executive session, the meeting adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is scheduled for February 17 at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library and is open to the public.