News – Monday, November 4th 2024

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of directors held their regular meeting last Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Doctor’s Library. The Board approved the minutes from the last three meetings. Hospital CEO, Brooke Bollman gave her report, in which she stated she is working to complete the due diligence request from Phelps Health. She is seeking additional funding opportunities for the hospital, and working on the Cost Report Preparations. Ms. Bollman also presented the Summary of Operations and Statistics. For the month of September, the hospital saw a decrease in inpatient admissions, a slight decrease in outpatient registrations, and a decrease in ambulance runs, but an increase in Emergency Room visits, as compared to August. Total operating revenue for September was $2.8 million.  The 340B program had a net revenue of $36,772. Ms. Bollman stated the hospital is spending less in salaries and payroll, but they are expecting a 35.5% aggregate increase in health insurance premiums, when they renew in November. Total operating expenses for the month were $1.9 million, leaving a profit of about $880,000. She did clarify that the profit for this month went straight to accounts payable, so cash flow is still negative, though they are making improvements. Accounts payable is currently at $1.4 million, which is down significantly from February when the account was over $2 million. The board also voted to not change the banks where the hospital’s CD Investments are kept. The hospital hired two full time employees, but lost seven. The hospital is currently planning an Employee Benefits Fair for open enrollment this month. During the QAPI report, it was noted that the hospital’s medication process now uses the Pyxis Profiling and Medication Scanning. In the Quality Projects, there have been sixteen recorded documentation errors, and not medication errors, in the month of September, and 47 total incident reports between August 26th and September 30th. Organizations interested in applying for the ToRCH Grant must submit applications by December 12th. The Board approved the Foundation Bylaws and before adjourning to closed session, the Board updated the date and time of the next meeting to the evening of November 21st at 7:00. 

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, Planning Manager Anne Freand and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Meramec Area Engineer Preston Kramer will meet with Dent County commissioners and citizens to discuss transportation needs on the state system today at the Dent County Courthouse Commission meeting room at 400 N. Main in Salem. The meeting will start at 10:00 in the morning. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting and share concerns or needs about road and bridge as well as multimodal transportation needs such as bike, pedestrian, airports, transit, rail and port. MRPC and MoDOT will be meeting with all eight counties in the region. Each county is asked to select its top three or four needs to be prioritized with the other projects in the Meramec Region. If you cannot attend the meeting, please reach out to the MRPC at 573-265-2993 at any time to add a need to the list.

Despite this week’s mild temperatures, winter – and the snow, sleet and ice that come along with it – is just around the corner. To help Missourians prepare and stay safe during the winter months, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Weather Service (NWS) are partnering to promote November 4th through the 8th as “Winter Weather Preparedness Week” in Missouri. SEMA and NWS Forecast Offices serving Missouri will be sharing winter weather safety messaging via social media throughout the week. Each day they will focus on a different theme starting Monday with Winter Weather Terminology, Ice Safety will be addressed on Tuesday, Wednesday will be Snow Safety while Thursday will be on Frostbite and Hypothermia, finishing up Friday with Planning for Snow, Ice and Cold. Road safety is also a concern during the winter months. According to preliminary results provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were more than 3,800 vehicle crashes in Missouri in 2023 during periods of snow, sleet, hail or ice, which resulted in 1,198 injuries and 22 deaths. Often, too little attention is paid to the danger posed by prolonged exposure to the cold. According to the Department of Health and Senior Services, 37 people died in Missouri as a result of low body temperatures due to prolonged exposure to cold weather in 2023. Listen to KSMO Radio or check out Your World Today this week during “Winter Weather Preparedness Week” for tips on how you can be ready for winter. 

Chiefs fans! The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks invites you to make a life-saving touchdown for local patients. Join them at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 201 North McArthur from Noon today until 6:00 in the evening. All successful donors will receive an all-new Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom T-shirt, while supplies last. Donors can also enter for a chance to win a game day package that includes two tickets and a parking pass to Kansas City’s December 21, 2024, game against the Houston Texans. Donors can schedule an appointment at cbco.org/donate-blood or calling 417-227-5006.