Hospital's new technology system is on schedule

The Nevada Regional Board of Directors heard an overview of the progress of its information technology project. The work is well under way with the construction of a training room and delivery of the system hardware. The board voted to approve up to $83,000 for the information technology server room power and air conditioning. The timeline for the project calls for the information technology staff to travel to Boston, Mass., for training the first week of February. The first phase of the system, involving the back office accounting functions is scheduled to go active the first of July. Human resources and payroll activities are scheduled to switch over to the new system in early August and patient services and all other departments are scheduled to be using the new system in early September. The new phone service debuted and a small number of problems -- not an unusual occurrence in such an installation, administrators noted -- are being addressed.

During a report, hospital CEO Judy Feuquay pointed out to board members the education information in their packets and said that more and more people are coming to the hospital through its emergency department.

"It really is the front door to the hospital," Feuquay said. "More and more often people are being admitted to the hospital through the ED. It is the first experience some people have of the hospital."

Feuquay said the hospital is still looking for a psychiatrist for the behavioral health unit and Dr. John Weaver's practice is increasing. Her report also revealed another long-time provider is getting ready to retire, Dr. Ted Moore announced his plans to retire May 31, 2008.

The NRMC Foundation had two new board members this month, Myles Miller and Don Wood joined the foundation board. The foundation donated a flat screen television for Barone Alzheimer's Care Unit and eight personal computers were donated to the hospital.

The board voted on several financial matters covering several different areas. They approved a lease agreement with Dr. Brian Curtis and a lease agreement with Freeman Health System --Dr. Zeuhike and Dr. Cox. They approved a contract renewal with Avatar International to provide patient satisfaction surveys and a contract renewal with StayWell Custom Commun-ications to produce four publications a year for distribution to 25,000 households. The board approved $217,226.31 in funded depreciation.

During the Quorum Health Resources report, Barbara Brooks told the board that Bart Milstead had been a victim of a "reduction in force" at Quorum and would no longer be advising the hospital.

The board also welcomed a new member, Bill Denman, at its first meeting of 2008 Tuesday. Denman replaced attorney Ron Fisk who had to leave the board because of term limits. At the same meeting Dr. Scott Compton became Chief of Staff.