Hospital board reviews recruitment efforts

Nevada Regional Medical Center CEO Judy Feuquay informed the board of directors about the addition of two physicians to the staff of the hospital and the addition of two visiting specialists. Dr. Joseph Dodd, general surgeon, joined the staff March 15 and Dr. David Dugger, OB/GYN, will join the last week in May. Dr. Anne Winkler has started providing Rheumatology clinics and Dr. Chris Andrew will hold his first Neurology clinic April 2.

The hospital is continuing recruitment of RNs and CNAs utilizing the Missouri Career Center to pre-screen applicants. Because of high turnover rate of CNAs the hospital developed a process that they hope will reduce turnovers. First, there will be an initial interview, then the peer group and HR recruiter meet the applicant and after beginning work the HR recruiter will follow up with new hires as a neutral party to see how they are doing in their new job.

The conversion of space on the second floor of the South Tower is proceeding. The project will convert the entire South Tower second floor to physician office space. The schedule calls for the project to be completed by the third week in May.

Dr. William Turner had questions on whether the cash on hand could be used to cover operating losses. CFO Cindy Buck told him they could, to a point.

"We have plenty of cash on hand, we do have money coming in but if the losses continue, eventually we could have a problem," Buck said. "We have to keep 70 days cash on hand for the bond covenants, and we have more than twice that."

Feuquay told the board that a newly minted policy, the Employee Loan Assistance program, had met with approval by the employees and at the suggestion of chairman Glenn Rogers, who was absent but passed the suggestion to Feuquay, she suggested the board approve adding $3,000 to the amount available to employees for emergencies. The board approved the addition.

The policy allows employees who have emergency expenses to borrow up to $200 from the fund, interest free. The loan is paid back over the next four pay periods from deductions to the employees pay.

Feuquay told the board the success of the various clinics the hospital had instituted had led to a need for more parking space.

"It's a problem, but a good one to have," Feuquay said.

The board agreed there needed to be discussion about more parking and agreed to put it on a future agenda.

In other business the board:

* Approved a three-year contract with a clinical equipment repair service at a cost of $40,800.

* Approved a three-year renewal of a contract with Progressive Healthcare Inc. for assistance with the development and enhancement of physician and hospital services.

* Renewed a contract with Community Blood Center for the purchase of blood products at an estimated cost of $140,000.

* Renewed a contract for the lease of infusion pumps for five years at a yearly estimated cost of $49,716.

* Approved the purchase of surgical equipment: Laparoscopic instruments, $26,236; Laparoscopic Tower, $66,861; and Energy Platform, $16,500.

* Approved the purchase of a GE ultrasound for $20,000.

* Approved funds for the conversion of the second floor of the South Tower into physician office space, $155,000.

* Approved $90,000 for the renovation of the space previously occupied by Rehab Services on the first floor of the South Tower.