Hospital getting new coding system

Board education started Tuesday evening’s hospital board meeting with a discussion of a new coding system coming to Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital: ICD10. The new coding system, developed in the ‘90’s, has become the norm for hospitals around the world but many hospital systems such as HSCMH are just now catching up. ICD10 is a numeric and alphabetized coding system (as opposed to only numeric with ICD9) that offers coders the opportunity to be much more specific. This specificity can be a huge benefit for research purposes, but also means coders and doctors will spend more time writing and coding precise notes. HSCMH is currently in the process of testing the new coding system and plans to go live with it in the near future.

The board was updated on a recent pipe leakage that occurred in the maintenance room of the hospital. The leak came from a sewer line break located beneath ICU Room #3 and was quickly contained. In the process, more cracks in the sewer line were identified and sections of the faulty pipe were replaced. Currently, the pipes and flooring are sealed and maintenance is waiting on new linoleum to arrive to finish the disrupted area. Hospital CEO Robin Roling and the maintenance crew happily reported that the incident did not impact patient cases or cancel any surgical procedures. An estimate from the plumber for the repair was approximately $30,000 but the final bill has not yet been received.

Erdman, a contracted healthcare real estate solutions and architectural firm, presented Plan B for the Master Facility Plan Modification Proposal. The plan showed options for utilizing the current hospital building and adding an additional 24,000 square feet wing to the South end of the hospital. This conceptual addition would feature a “centralized zone” with a main entrance coming directly in from Arapahoe Street as well as space for specialty clinics and helipad while also alleviating parking issues. The idea for this plan is to “build small, plan for future growth,” said architect John Boyer with Erdman.

Roling presented and recommended for approval the Credentialing Policy that medical staff had been reviewing for the last few weeks. Two small changes regarding board certification and frequency of office visits were made and the board approved the policies.

Marketing Director, John Gibbel reviewed several projects hospital staff had been working: a new television was installed in the waiting area, community needs health assessment is being worked on for the following year, donated school supplies were delivered to Thermopolis Middle School, and a “No Pass Zone”, which will allow anyone to answer a call light, is being formulated in an effort to improve patient’s feelings of primary concern.

Shelly Larson, HSCMH CFO, and Roling recommended the board approve current contracts with Rural Health Partners (RHP). Contracts with RHP have multiple benefits, one of which helps hospital claims get sent out quicker and cleaner. The monthly contract fee is $1,250 but clean claims could bring the hospital an additional $30,000 in bonuses. Roling identified a benefit of working with RHP could be utilizing a contracted informaticist. The hospital has been without an in-house informaticist since May and has identified a need for the position part-time. RHP offered a 90-day contract (with $15,000 set-up fee and $40.60 hourly rate) to utilize an off-location informaticist who would make occasional trips to HSCMH and be available on call. Roling stated this contract would be cheaper than hiring a full-time staff member. The board discussed options with and approved both contracts.

Human Resources Director, Patti Jeunehomme, presented multiple human resource policies and procedures to the board. Many policies had no changes, but Jeunehomme highlighted the new sign on bonus, referral incentive program, and bonus program that would encourage new hires and staff to pick up extra shifts when needed.

Roling and board president Dr. Bill Williams discussed surveys that will hold all hospital staff and board members accountable. Roling announced that an employee satisfaction survey had already been completed, but a physician satisfaction survey would be available soon. In a similar appraisal effort, Williams passed out a board evaluation form to all board members for them to take home and complete an in-depth self-review.