Hospital board gets compliance update

Tuesday evening at their regular meeting, the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees received information from Kelli Hoblit regarding compliance for boards and a compliance work plan.

The plan addresses topics such as awareness efforts on compliance risks, audits and monitoring, policy creation and evaluation and regular and/or specialized training.

The plan is meant to demonstrate the hospital's commitment to ethical conduct by setting up guidelines for conduct

Among the items Hoblit spoke to was education and training, noting in the coming year she wants to increase the workforce awareness when it comes to compliance. This can be done through training the hospital is aware of based on audits and monitoring, or generalized education.

Hoblit further added she meets with new employees during their orientation, introducing herself and making sure they know the hospital has a compliance program. There is also compliance education at the facility’s annual skills fair.

Hoblit said she recently sent out a questionnaire to department directors, and many were unsure of what she did and why. She wants to increase the awareness of who she is and the compliance policy, so they can pass that information on to department staff.

There is also an anonymous compliance hotline, Hoblit noted, which is available to staff, patients and their families. The number is recorded on a poster throughout the facility and on the website, and Hoblit reports any calls to the compliance committee on a quarterly basis.

With regard to audits and monitoring, Hoblit said departments do specific targeted audits, and she hopes to expand that and be a bit more involved with the process. She also hopes to collaborate with the new quality risk officer, Nina Landis, and her knowledge to get a better “footprint” in risk assessment and what areas to target.

Hoblit also plans to “beef up” the quarterly reports she provides to the board so they get more detail with regard to auditing and monitoring, and she will be available to answer any questions.

The board also received a guide of health care governing boards with regard to compliance oversight, addressing topics such as expectations of the board, reporting to the board, identifying risk areas and encouraging compliance.

Though Chief Financial Officer Shelly Larson was absent from the meeting, board member Dave Koerwitz said they had a good month, but noted the days in accounts receivable were up to 45. Days cash on hand were at 62.

He also pointed out the cash flow increased by over $1 million. There was also an $8,700 surplus, he added, which is good.

Koerwitz also had some questions, noting there has been $275,000 in construction costs paid out of general operations, and there needs to be a decision as to whether they continue to deplete their cash. There are also still some problems areas, Koerwitz said, particularly in contract labor as travelling nurses is still a big cost. Referrals from the ER into the hospital are down by 50 percent, Koerwitz noted, which follows the national trend.

Overall, Koerwitz said he is pleased with how the financials are looking and believes the hospital is on a good track.

With regard to staffing, hospital CEO Margie Molitor reported Dr. Susan Bright was sent her final contract for a signature, and Dr. Mattson Mathey appears to be ready to sign as well.

Rhonda Hahn is also the hospital’s new RN clinic supervisor, but will also continue to be the nurse for Dr. Travis Bomengen.

Molitor also reported they are in the process of purchasing a radio frequency ablation unit for Dr. Ryan Shedd’s pain clinic. Dr. Shedd provides the service at Powell and he would like the hospital to purchase the equipment so he can use it with patients here as well as bringing down patients from Powell.

Though the equipment is about $31,000, Molitor noted a private donation has covered about $14,000 of that.