Care centers care for more patients than expected

A Catch-22 in the law resulted in Moore-Few Care Center getting one of four deficiencies from the annual OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) survey. According to Denise Sloniker, vice-president of long-term care, one of the deficiencies cited was employee's using their hands to butter bread and rolls.

Safety issues prevent employees from handling food without gloves. Dignity issues prevent employees from wearing gloves while assisting residents to eat. Board member Brian Breckenridge asked how employees were supposed to butter the bread and rolls.

"You're not allowed to pick up the bread or roll to butter it," Sloniker said. "You can't wear gloves because it's a dignity issue and you can't touch the food without them. For now, we will be using utensils -- holding the bread with a fork while we spread the butter."

Sloniker said squeezable butter and jelly would be purchased from now on to make it possible to meet the requirement of the regulations. The other three deficiencies have been corrected as well; insulin was being giving too soon prior to meals, the medication refrigerator was too cold, and a fire damper did not work.

Both Moore-Few and Barone care centers, as well as the hospital itself, experienced higher than anticipated activities resulting in higher net income despite increased expenses. For the care centers the average daily census was 130.7 when the budget anticipated 116 residents. For the hospital it was outpatient visits that were more than anticipated, 4,392 actual visits versus 3,651 which were budgeted.

According to the hospital's CNO, Harlo McCall, part of the reason for the increase in outpatient visits was because the Emergency Department saw a large influx of flu-like patients during the first two weeks of October which tapered off the second two weeks.

McCall said the staffs exposure to the flu was minimized by the effective use of masks and universal precautions. Further when supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine are available, which is anticipated by Dec. 15, any staff that has not been vaccinated will wear masks when interacting with patients.

The two care centers received other good news as well, the Medicaid reimbursement rate had been adjusted upward by $6.15 per day, retroactive to October. The new rate will result in an extra $64,000 for the retroactive reimbursement and approximately $15,000 a month additional income going forward.

Continuing the good news the hospital's purchase of lift equipment in previous years has paid off in lower premiums for Worker's Compensation insurance because of reduced claims.

The 2010 premium is $46,997 less than the 2009 premium.

An architect has made some changes to the floor plan of the recently purchased clinical services building including an additional bathroom and other changes.

Glenn Rogers was elected to another term as chairman of the board and Chuck Edmonds repeats as vice-chairman. Steve Russ was elected to fill the secretary position of Denise Nelson, the former secretary.

In other business the board:

* Continued agreements with several doctors; Keith Abercrombie, Saad Al-Shathir Sean Gravely, John Torontow, and William Turner.

* Contracted with Dr. John Sands for EEG interpretations.

* Continued agreements with Freeman Health Systems and Heart and Vascular Care.

* Approved Workers Compensation renewal for $247,538.

* Approved purchase of computers, workstations and scanning devices that will be used with the Meditech software.

* Approved purchase of wireless network system to allow documentation at the patients bedside.

* Approved the renewal of the Employee Health Insurance.