All outpatient areas now open in new hospital wing

At the April Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board meeting CEO Margie Molitor said, “the exciting thing is that all of our outpatient areas are now open. Everything the patient touches is new or remodeled. They can come in the main entrance and find their way.”

Molitor also said that their CT volume is going up and they are hoping their mammography volume goes up too.

They are getting good feedback from the speciality clinic from the specialists there. Dr. Nicole Jamieson is confirmed to start work on August 9, and she will be rotating with Dr. Vernon Miller in Worland. She will also go to Riverton about two days a month. Dr. Stephen Asay will start September 1, when that happens Dr. Mattson Mathey and Dr. Travis Bomengen will return to Thermopolis and not be in Basin. 

Molitor also reported that they will close their USDA loan on June 9. They are working on getting their artwork finalized for their facilities, and they are using local photographers as well. 

In the quality report Nina Landis said their medication reconciliation numbers in March were at 77% which brought their year to date at 76% which is one point below their goal. Landis said they are reworking their structure and will have different report times, they are “trying to make things more efficient and make things smoother.” 

In the financial report Shelly Larson said their days in accounts received are at 52.04 days for March, which is down from the previous month by three days. This was due to an increase in bad debt that was turned over to collections. Their days cash on hand increased to 172 days by the end of March. It was 145 previously, which was a 17 day increase. This was due because the hospital received their prior year Medicare settlement of about $751,000 and a lump sum settlement of the current year because their rates went up, which was almost $300,000. 

Larson also gave their 990 report, which is required to file because the hospital is dual status as a government entity and a 501c3 non-profit organization.

The report was created by their accountant Koerwitz Michel Wright & Associates and gave a summary of their activities. The 990 provides a statement of functional expenses which shows how much the hospital spends on its program services, which is healthcare versus management and general expenses.

Currently, they are spending about 86% on program services, 14% on management. In the previous year they spent 74% on program services and 26% on management. For their report under Schedule H as a non-profit organization, they are required to provide back to the community certain benefits so they can keep their tax-exempt status.

Larson said, “typically the benchmark is 9%. This year they are at 5.59%.” She also said they received a drop in their financial assistance. Larson said there are other benefits to the community such as the Lab Well program, education programs like Safe Sitter and the Fun Run which bring attention to and provide information about breast cancer.

There are also the subsidized healthcare services which are in the ER even though it does not provide a profit. The hospital also provides their community needs assessment, which the board approved in June 2019, which is done every three years and it is posted on their website.

Chairman Bill Williams asked Larson a theoretical question, “if by some miracle the legislature happens to see the light and do Medicaid expansion how does that change our 990?.” Larson replied, “You’re likely to see a greater number of participants in the Medicaid program. I don’t know that it will change their reimbursement methodology. So that benefit would become much larger for the community.” The board voted and passed to approve and accept the 990 report. 

In the medical staff report Dr. Hallie Bischoff said the nuclear medicine unit is back up and running and they are trying to catch up on the tests the specialists have sent in. Their trauma survey will be done in May, with a group coming in to observe them. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Caldwell is ending his care in Thermopolis and his last appointments will be in the end of June. They will continue to work with Dr. Francisco, and Dr. Rice from Cody will come up to provide care as well. 

In the people report Linda Veylupek said the Human Resources Society said they expect to have a higher turnover rate this year due to the Covid situation. For the hospital here Veylupek said with their cultural changes they are making they hope to keep the employees they want to keep. The turnover numbers for the last year show they were below target so far. 

In new business, Molitor presented their new and revised Vision Statement: “Hot Springs Health will be the provider of choice in our region; providing the highest quality care and excelling as a teaching hospital in Wyoming.” The board passed a motion to accept the new vision statement.

Also in new business, the board approved three change orders for the construction of administrative offices.