Trustee Minutes – 2/18/2025
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Mt. Grant General Hospital
Thursday, January 23rd, 2025
11:30am
Present: Richard Schumann, Chairperson; Karen Womack, Member; Kelli King, Member; Dr. Sharon Ruch, Chief of Staff; Denise Ferguson, CEO; Jonalee Roberts, HR Director; Sandi Lehman, CFO; Hunter Bolanos, HR Generalist; Becky Bayley, NRHP Vice-President; Blayne Osborn, NRHP President; Rowell Cordova, DON
Absent: Paula Viani-Reed, Member; Nancy Rutherford, Co-Chairperson
- Call to Order
The meeting of the Mt. Grant General Hospital Board of Trustees was called to order at 11:27am by Richard Schumann.
- General Public Comment
None
- Governance Training Presentation from Blayne Osborn, NRHP President.
(Training attached to original minutes) Blayne and Becky started the training with introductions with all the board and staff present. Training covered topics of Board Governance and the relationship with NRHP and what they do. Key services from NRHP include Advocacy, Information Technologies, Group Purchasing, TEAM, Mobile MRI, Worker’s Compensation, Quality performance improvement, etc., Blayne presented information and relationships with Office of Rural Health, and their purpose. Provided information for NRS and chapter rules and regulations that Critical Access Hospitals must follow, conditions of participation, and confidentiality (HIPAA). Resources were outlined for Open Meeting Law. Presented with Legislative updates and top priorities for Critical Access Hospitals. No action to be taken.
- Approval of Minutes from December 19th, 2024
A motion to approve the December 2024 was tabled to next meeting. (Dr. Ruch must abstain)
- Financial Report – Sandi Lehman
The December 2024 financials were overviewed by Sandi including operating incomes and adjustments. Operating loss of $208k, net loss of $140k. Contract labor costs caused significant adjustments to the December budget. Operating revenue slightly over budget. Salary and wages are under budget, which reflects the contract labor increase. Increases in EHR payments due to collections percentages taken for payments. Patient volumes were low for the month of December for swing-beds, inpatient, observation, and emergency room visits. Financial Reports for December 2024 were approved with a motion by Karen Womack and seconded by Dr. Sharon Ruch. Motion carries.
- Administrator Report – Denise Ferguson
Denise reviewed the Administrator Report (copy attached to original minutes). Denise presented on Leadership Team’s strategic goals for 2025.
- Website Design
- Grant Development
- Swing Bed Revenue
- Staff retention
- Self-pay collections
- ER/MedSurg
- Retention
- Morale
- Training & professional development
- Enhancing clinical expertise
- Clinic
- Team Communication
- HR
- Recruitment/Retention
- Onboarding Processes
- Application processing
- Stay interviews
- IT
- Domain conversion
- Lease agreements
- Computer replacing
- Service room relocation
- Attesting for new information and updates
- Technical skills training
- Committee Reports
- Trustee of the Month – Richard Schumann
- Emergency Department – Rowell Cordova, DON.
(copy attached to original minutes) Rowell reviewed the Emergency Department Report. Significant increase in ER Patients. This is known as a seasonal surge due to the time of year. Similar to December 2023. Increase of urgent patient visits. One death, 3 elopements, and 1 AMA. Seeing more urgent and non-emergent patients lately, will continue staff and patient training.
- Pharmacy – Rowell Cordova DON.
(Copy attached to original minutes.) Presented by Rowell. Pharmacist was on site yesterday working on our annual pharmacy state survey, set to be done in March. Pharmacist suggested new dispensing techniques for narcotics to help when the external pharmacy is closed. Continuing to mitigate medications that are not highly utilized.
- Patient Safety – Denise Ferguson, CEO.
Copy attached to original minutes. Review of sentinel events, equipment & supply issues, infection control department report, safety department report, pharmacy issues, and staffing. No sentinel events and no medication errors. No concerns with inventory, IV Fluids accessibility has returned. PPE inventory is being cleaned out to use items expiring soon. Infection control measures are going very well. Continuing with fall-prevention measures including Ocuverra monitors, alarms, and staff and resident education. Changes being made to the pharmacy, with new Pharmacy nurse beginning training. CLIA Lab survey was completed this week and went very well.
- Human Resources – Jonalee Roberts, HR Director & Hunter Bolanos, HR Generalist (copy attached to original minutes)
What’s new in HR
Current projects
Recruitment
- Review, discussion, and appropriate action on recommendation from the Medical Staff to grant privileges to providers listed
A motion to grant privileges to the roster of physicians was approved with a motion by Karen Womack and seconded by Dr. Sharon Ruch. Motion carries
- Review, discussion, and appropriate action on Collections/Bad Debt Policy
Presented by Sandra Lehman. (copy attached to original minutes) A motion to approve the new Collections/Bad debt Policy was made by Karen Womack and seconded by Dr. Sharon Ruch. Motion carries
- Trustee comments/ future agenda items
Elections will be taking place next meeting
- General Public Comments
None
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 1:22pm with a motion by Karen Womack seconded by Kelli King. Motion carries.
Next regular Board meeting is scheduled for February 27th, 2025