Local News – Thursday, March 24th, 2022

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. In the summary of operations for the month of February, the hospital had only 70 inpatient admissions with 219 inpatient census days which is the lowest this fiscal year. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $1,018,306, but received American Relief Fund monies well as Phase 4 monies as non-operating revenues of $2,336,196 to have an excess of revenues over expenses of $1,361,497. During the month, there were 516 emergency room visits with 55 admissions, plus there were 176 ambulance runs where 129 patients were transported. In February, there were 32 surgery cases, 1,070 outpatient registrations, 4,814 lab tests, 901 radiological procedures, 406 rehab treatments and 155 home health visits with 16 home health admissions. The days in account receivable during the month went up to 81 which is the same as January and days cash on hand was back at 53 which is normal for critical access hospitals. The hospital had a cash increase in February of $2,918,352. Hospital Administrator CFO Doug Hoban said the hospital had additional expenses with temporary employees, the CHC extension and RHG contract as well as higher than normal maintenance costs. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity at 20 per day with 8 patients per day. She also gave the six-month Home Health Report that showed 92% overall care in the patient satisfaction survey. Sullins also gave the COVID-19 update and said the number of COVID cases as of Tuesday in Dent County was 5 with a positivity rate of about 2% of those tested. As of Tuesday, the community vaccination rate is 36.4% for the first dose and 32.7% fully vaccinated. Sullins stated the Community Health Needs Assessment that must be updated every three years is now available at the SMDH.net website with paper copies available at local financial institutions and health care offices. Those surveys are due by April 15th. In the lab update, the CLIA survey from March 9th showed no deficiencies. The new Vitros Chemical Analyzer is scheduled to be in April 4th and it will take two to three weeks to calibrate before CLIA will return for full certification. Right now, staffing is a problem in the lab as they have a lab director, a full time temp and a weekend person. CEO Bill May reported Tabitha Stanfast will be the RN Program Coordinator for the Delta Regional Community Health System Development Program. The board heard from Reese Baker from RHG who said the hospital will not submit attestation in March and will wait until CMS opens the hardship window. The hospital will file under the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances and CMS looks at these on a case-by-case basis. Baker will have a full risk assessment complete by June for the board who approved this strategy for the hospital. The board talked about the closure of the lagoon and the estimated cost to create a closure plan of $4,640 came from Darren-Krehbiel Consultants. The board felt that they were told by City Administrator Ray Walden that the city would pay for the closure of the lagoon in a presentation to the board a few years ago if the hospital agreed to become part of the city’s wastewater system. The administration will follow up on that. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released a number of reports. On Sunday, March 13th, a deputy investigated a suspicious subject at Shawnee Mac Conservation Area. During the investigation, a 34-year-old Salem woman was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending issuance of a warrant. On Tuesday, March 15th, a deputy investigated a report of property damage on Dent County Road 2560. The investigation revealed that an unknown person or persons had damaged a mailbox belonging to the reporting party. No further information was available, pending further investigative leads. Later in the week on Thursday, March 17th, an employee of the Dent County Road and Bridge Department reported the theft of fuel from a tractor on Dent County Road 5240. Evidence at the scene revealed unknown person or persons siphoned approximately twenty gallons of diesel fuel from the vehicle. The investigation will continue from the evidence found. Later that day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Pershing Avenue. During the stop a 46-year-old man was arrested for resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, the possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia from a prior drug offense and driving while having their license revoked or suspended. He was also found to have an active arrest warrant through Greene County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was held on the warrant and placed on a 24-hour-hold. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.