Local News – Wednesday, February 17th, 2021

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 January, the hospital had 94 inpatient admissions with 326 inpatient census days. The average amount of patients per day in Acute Care was 10.5. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $909,539 and expenses over revenues after taxes of $571,153. The hospital applied for the Payroll Protection Program loan forgiveness through the Bank of Salem for the 2.3 million dollars. The SBA asked for additional information that was provided and the hospital is optimistic the loan will be forgiven. The hospital had a cost report settlement and expects to see retroactive savings in the 340B drug program as the hospital changed wholesale pharmaceutical drug providers and haven’t received all their savings. The total amount of Accounts Receivable has been reduced by almost $200,000 and the days in account receivable went down to 97 days from 98 last month. During the month, there were 532 emergency room visits to go with 190 ambulance runs with 139 patients being transported, 23 surgery cases, 1,654 outpatient registrations, 291 home health visits, 7,681 lab tests, 1,237 radiological procedures including 580 rehab treatments. Chief of Nursing Debbie Hines gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity at 27 per day with between 7 to 12 patients per day. Hines said an additional four beds in acute care will again be available that had been kept separate for COVID-19 patients and the amount of dialysis patients will be increased from eight to 12 per day. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards the Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 4th and sponsorships as well as team entries are being accepted. The Wings and Strings event is tentatively scheduled for September 11th at the Commons and the band “ChristiAna” has been scheduled for the event. He said there were no further updates on the TytoCare-school focused telemedicine product at this time. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas said the hospital instituted their “inclement weather policy” on Monday where those employees not dealing with patients can come to work if they want, but are not required if they are not confident they make it. Lucas gave the COVID-19 update and said the positive test rate now in Dent County is around 2%. Because of that, the hospital revised the visitor policy on February 15th to allow one visitor with Emergency Room patients, but once they are there, that person is not allowed to leave. The hospital also will allow one visitor per day with Acute Care patients and for Outpatient Services and masks will be required. This revision will continue as long as the positivity rate stays below 10%. Lucas said anyone in isolation though is not allowed visitors. He went on to say that beginning in March, the board meetings and med-staff meetings will be held in person as long as the positivity rate stays below 10%. Kasey reported the hospital gave out 200 vaccines at the fire station on February 5th and another 180 vaccines on the 10th as the weather turned bad. They will again be providing vaccines at the Dent County Fire Station on February 18th and 25th for those who qualify through Phase 1A and Phase 1B, Tiers 1and 2. Lucas said there was a total of 1,800 vaccines provided on February 11th and 12th at the Commons. He wanted to commend the hospital and Dent County Health Center staff for their fine effort, and commended the National Guard for their organization of the event. The second doses at the Commons will be on March 11th and 12th, and the second dose for those being vaccinated at the fire station will also be held on various dates in March, 30 days after their first shot. Lucas said the new generator installed during the expansion would be tested on February 23rd and 25th. Lucas discussed with the board the Cerver Conversion as they had meetings with the focus groups for Paylocity and Microsoft Dynamics 365. At this time, the hospital will begin the data entry for the conversion in April and the system will go live with the first paychecks issued in July. The board will review the Conflict of Interest policy and approve it at the March meeting. The finance committee will meet on March 4th at 1:30 to go over the market assessment in preparation for the budget, and the board approved the purchase of a new V-Plow for UTV Maintenance from Midwest Systems Truck Equipment for $3,350. This was a non-budgeted purchase. The board then went into closed session.

An accident at the 187.2 mile marker of Interstate 44 in Phelps County Sunday afternoon at 3:50 left an Oklahoma City couple with serious injuries. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2010 Lexus RX350, driven by 50- year-old William Parker traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Parker and a passenger, 49-year-old April Parker, were both transported to Phelps Health by EMS for treatment of their injuries. The report stated that both occupants of the vehicle were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Lexus was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon around 3:45 on westbound I-44 in Phelps County near the 186 mile marker. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 being driven by 29-year old Brianna Yelton of Springfield, began sliding and traveled off the left side of the interstate and struck a concrete barrier. Yelton was transported to Phelps Health for the treatment of minor injuries. According to the report, she was wearing a safety restraint the time of the accident. The S-10 had moderate damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing.