Yuma Hospital District made tremendous progress in regards to its financial situation during 2024.
The good news came during the YHD Board of Directors’ monthly meeting, last week in the Pearse Boardroom. All five members were present, President Monica King, Vice President Mitch Korf, Delaina Klein, Mark Werts and Elizabeth Hickman.
Financial Officer Rick Korf reported to the board the district was a plus $400,000 in December, and the tentative 2024 numbers show a profit of $1.3 million. The Yuma Clinic was up $380,000 in 2024, the Akron Clinic had a positive year, and Home Health was in the negative but moving in the right direction.
There was grave concern after the district operated at a $2.2 million deficit in 2023, but it definitely turned around last year.
“I think that is amazing,” CEO Anne Kreutzer said. She began in that role on May 1, 2024. “…We are beyond excited we have finished the year on a positive note.”
Mitch Korf said it is amazing compared to where the district had been, and credited the leadership and employees with the turnaround. “It’s only the beginning,” he added.
Kreutzer noted the district is not out of the woods yet but is making great progress.
The board last January authorized making $2 million in Raymond James Investment funds available to meet operating costs if needed. The district ended up utilizing $450,000 but none since April. Mitch Korf said it is a nice safety net and is in favor of extending the investment funds availability into 2025. The board unanimously passed a motion to keep the remaining $1.55 million available this year.
Feedback
Local resident Sue Allen, who worked for the hospital district for several years, addressed the board during public comment. She shared some positive experiences, as well as some negative ones.
She told the board she suffered a serious injury last year at Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, and there was concern she never would be able to walk again.
However, she received great rehab services in Ogallala, and then it carried over in Yuma when she was finally able to come back here. She said the therapy pool is a great blessing to the community.
“Ogallala gave me hope,” Allen said, “but Yuma gave me the knowledge I could walk again,” adding that the Yuma staff is great.
She also shared a concern in relation to when she was seriously sick a few weeks ago. She said she called the clinic early in the morning to try to get an appointment, but got a message that her call could not be answered due to high call volume. She also called the nurses station and got the same recording, so finally her husband just drove her in only to find out the clinic did not open until 9 a.m.
She said she did get in and really the doctor who treated her, but she wanted to share her concerns about the phone situation.
Allen also shared the story of a local gentleman who wanted to get his knee surgery in Yuma, but ran into hassles and finally went to Wray, where it all got lined up and completed in an efficient manner. The man had told her he really wanted to get his surgery in his Yuma hospital, but finally felt he had to go to Wray.
Allen told the board she feels these are things the hospital staff needs to know so it can be fixed, adding she really wants to see the Yuma hospital thrive.
Kreutzer introduced herself to Allen, thanked her for her input, and assured her the hospital district is rolling out a patient experience effort.
More meeting
The board approved a motion to keep its meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Pearse Boardroom
Board members signed conflict of interest and confidentiality statements.
The district is bringing back cataract services in March. A request to purchase an ultrasonic cleaner in relation to that service was approved.
The annual review of the Department of Medical Directors was discussion and approved.
Teri Mekelburg was approved to be in charge of Infection Control, as was Reagan (Cullen) Silvus for Antimicrobial Stewardship.
Combining the Quality and Compliance committees was approved by the board, as well as King being the board’s representative.
The board approved a resolution to have a board election in May, appointed Kiara Saucedo as the Designated Election Official. (Look for more on the election elsewhere in this edition.)
Medical staff appointments and reappointments, as well as resignations, were approved by the board.
The board discussed creating a CEO Performance Evaluation. Mitch Korf noted it is the board’s job to evaluate the CEO and provide feedback, but it currently does not have an evaluation form or a matix. The board approved a motion tasking Korf and Hickman to come up with a plan to develop an evaluation system, investigating what is done by other medical organizations.
BOARD ELECTION
The call for nominations have gone out for the Yuma Hospital District Board of Directors election.
The election is scheduled for May 6. Three seats are up for election, each carrying a four-year term. The seats currently are held by Monica King, Mark Werts and Elizabeth Hickman.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is February 28 at 5 p.m. Eligible electors of the Yuma Hospital District interested in serving on the board may obtain the form from Designated Election Official Kiara Saucedo at the hospital on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
An affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate must be submitted to Saucedo by Monday, March 3.