Cardiac imaging a goal of NRMC Foundation

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation President Sue Quitno told the hospital board that her organization's Oct. 20 gala will raise money for a 4-D ultrasound with digital cardiac imaging capability.

In her annual report, Quitno said the theme for the Elks Lodge Bingo Hall event will be "Moonlight Over Morocco" with the social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7.

She said the foundation accepted $66,294 in donations in fiscal 2012 with $20,740 from the Caring with Pride Golf Classic and $17,066 from last year's Aloha! Gala, which was attended by 214 people. "Funded projects totaled $50,000 for two new all-wheel drive vehicles for the Home Health Department," Quitno said.

She said continuing programs are the Lullaby Baby Wall, the annual appeal and the Christmastime Tree of Shining Memories.

In other business Aug. 28, the NRMC Board of Directors heard CEO Judy Feuquay say she has joined a community steering team meeting monthly in the Cerner Corp. of Kansas City's "Healthy Nevada" project.

Referring to Cerner's development of a model by which other American towns and cities may improve their citizens' health, Feuquay said, "We are proud to have the opportunity to serve as the 'alpha' site so other communities can duplicate our successes as a 'living lab.'"

She said the hospital has installed a new security system with a name badge printer to activate access control and that the expansion of the north parking lot at 800 S. Ash St. will be finished in early September.

Feuquay said the hospital recently earned a full one-percent Medicare readmissions award and most of the maximum one-percent for value-based purchasing through quality measurements. "NRMC was one of 21 of the 76 participating Missouri hospitals that did not receive a penalty for readmissions," she said.

"Of the one-percent potential award for value-based purchasing, we lost .08 of a percent and retained .92, equating to less than a $3,000 loss annually."

Chief Financial Officer Tommy McGee said net operating income in July was $109,765, compared to the budgeted $149,436. "We lost eligibility for Medicare dependent status on June 30," McGee said.

"The fiscal year 2009 Medicare cost report is in the settlement process, which should get us back in compliance and eligible to receive additional money again. We have made a conscious decision to add staff to ensure success with Medicare Meaningful Use money and the Cerner project."

Medicare Meaningful Use funds are used for electronic health records, according to references.

Expenditures approved by the board Aug. 28 were $36,259 for 3M coding software to enable the assignment of billing codes to accounts so appropriate reimbursement is received based on government regulations; a $7,920 contract for Dr. Sean Gravely to interpret electrocardiograms; and a $3,600 contract for Dr. Warren Lovinger to supervise cardio-pulmonary services.

Long Term Care Administrator Michael Parson said in his monthly report that David Harms, Virginia Anders and he made 36 calls in July to implement their new marketing plan of action, resulting in an increase of 2.9 residents at Moore-Few and Barone Alzheimer's care centers for an average daily census of 107.9.

Noting the budgeted census was 114, Parson said, "Net revenue was under budget by $46,542 and expenses were under by $1,758.

"Net operating income totaled a loss of $27,235, below budget by $44,784. Cash on hand as of July 31, year to date, was (to finance operations for) 281.8 days, or 22.3 days over the benchmark of 259.5 and still very strong."

Feuquay said she and staff members visited Freeman Nephrology Group Aug. 23 in Joplin to discuss a dialysis program. "Our emergency department's admission rate continues to increase and be closer to national norms, thanks to our physicians and interim nurse leadership," she said.