Local News- Thursday, March 22nd, 2018

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Stogsdill gave the summary of operations for February that showed a gain from operations of $49,053 with an excess of revenues over expenses of $67,393 for the month. In February, 82 patients were admitted to the hospital as acute care patients per day for the month came in at 11.1. The cash flow statement showed an increase in cash of $72,796 for the month with days in accounts receivable shooting up to 71 due to the high volume of patients. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines reported during the month there were 774 emergency room visits, 247 ambulance runs with 190 patients being transported to the hospital, 22 surgery services, 1,763 outpatient registrations, 166 home health visits, 8,539 lab tests, 981 radiological procedures and 596 rehab treatments. The days cash-on-hand for the hospital stands at 95 year-to-date and that is way over the Critical Access Hospital state average of 65. Hines went over the Quality Improvement report for the month of February for dialysis, radiology and SMDH Family Medicine. An updated risk management project was also reviewed. A flu update showed flu cases decreased at the hospital in February to 128 cases after peaking in January at 236 cases. Chief Operating Officer Chris Strickland reported on the hospital foundation and the golf tournament to be held on June 8th. He also discussed the possible change of the entity structure of the foundation to a 501 C 3 status. Hospital Attorney Mark Weaver, Strickland and the hospital accountants, BKD have discussed the change, but a few more issues need to be addressed before any change is made. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas showed the board the new patient whiteboards done by Kent Nichols sponsored by the hospital auxiliary. Strickland attended his first opening day at Montauk and handed out new marketing materials on the hospital. He said the hospital and SMDH Family Medicine will also have representation at the Ladies Night Out event this week with a new display. The board approved privileges for nine Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists from Phelps County including Billy Albertson, Christopher Black, John Byrd, Jason Corey, Angela D. DeLaria, Jeffrey Dean Heese, Michael F. Jones, Joe Meyerott, and Curtis Roberston. Courtesy Staff privileges for Charles Rasmussen, DO and Jacob Ballman MD from 360 degree Medicine for the Emergency Department were also approved by the board. The Finance Committee met March 6th and approved the market assessment and reviewed the capital budget. They plan on meeting again in April. The board approved the purchase of a deep fat fryer for dietary from US Foods for $5,594, approved the purchase of an E-Stim/Ultrasound Combo Unit for Rehab from Medline for $3,370, approved the purchase of a Glidescope for the Emergency Department from Salter Labs for $12,514, approved the purchase of a Lift Assist IV Pole for the Surgery Department from Bryton Corporation for $1,169, and approved the purchase of a Cautery Unit for the Surgery Department from Ethicon Megadyme for $6,171. The board then went into closed session.

Healthy Dent County’s 7th annual “Girls Night Out” event will be held on tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Attendees will experience shopping with unique vendors, prize giveaways, FREE samples, door prizes, massages, food samples, wine tasting and many other exciting items. This event is limited to women and girls who are 12 years of age and older and the admission fee is $5.00. Over 54 vendors will display and sell their products and services. Bring your girlfriends for an evening of pampering, shopping and eating. Bring in a canned food or non-perishable food item for a chance to win a Amazon Gift Cards. You get one ticket per item, so the more you donate, so does your chance to win the gift cards. Food donations will be given to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. For additional information call Sherry at 729-8163.

A ReproGene 2018 workshop will be held in Monday at 4:30 at the Recklein Auditorium in Cuba. The workshop will deal with the remarkable technology available to beef producers and how producers can use these tools to increase profits. The workshop will be led by MU Extension’s David Patterson and Jared Decker. The workshop will be coordinated by University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist, Ted Cunningham. Early registration for $20.00 ends TODAY which includes dinner. The registration fee is $25.00 at the door. For information contact Jared Decker at (573) 882-2504 or Ted Cunningham at (573) 729-3196.