There is an opening on the Yuma Hospital District Board of Directors.
Board member Robert Dorothy announced his resignation during last week’s regular board meeting. He noted he has been missing meetings lately due to other obligations. He said that after last week’s meeting the next one he would be able to attend would be in December, “and that’s just not fair to the rest of you guys.”
He has purchased a home in Aurora, where he will be closer to his grandchildren and other family members. Dorothy expressed reluctance resigning, saying he feels the hospital district is on the right path now under new CEO Anne Kreutzer. Board members expressed their appreciation for him and were sorry to see him go.
The board will eventually appoint someone to the board, but the process is not clear yet.
Dorothy is the husband of Dr. Debra Bislip. She will be resigning later this year.
All five board members were at last week’s meeting, including President Monica King, Delaina Klein, Dee Ann Sewell and Mitch Korf.
They heard good news in the financial report from Rick Korf. The district had a $292,000 profit for the month, which brings the year-to-date financials into the positive. Also, the district has not used any reserves since April.
The board approved changes to the Administrator on Call Policy, as well as changes to the Expenditure Policy. The latter included all purchases more than $5,000 will be forwarded to the board, and the addition of some checks and balances.
Korf told the board the purchasing of new vehicles following the May hailstorm was still in progress, and the district is getting a second quote on the roof repairs.
Ted Beckman and Korf provided an update on the partnership with Schneider Electric for major energy infrastructure upgrades. They said the district is pushing for a boiler overhaul to be a focus, with the rooftop units still at the top of the list.
Beckman paced the board through an explanation for purchasing a system that would streamline laboratory operations. Getting a subscription for Data Innovations eliminates a lot of manual inputting, and streamlines all the different entities involved in lab work. The bottom line is results are returned to the physician and patient in a more-timely manner.
The first year costs $67,000, which includes professional services for the system’s implementation and training, and then $23,000 per year after that.
The board unanimously approved the purchase of a cable system used on fractures.
Kreutzer informed the board temporary medical staff privileges have been granted to Vanessa Dischner, F.N.P., and Dr. Schreiber, who specializes in shoulders. Both are ready to get going, but the next medical staff approvals for the board to consider is not until the September 25 meeting, thus the temporary privileges.
Kreutzer provided an update on the town hall meetings she has had with the staff. The focus for improving services is a happy and productive staff, making it easier for patients to get appointments, improved marketing, and improved recruitment efforts.
Sewell reported she has been hearing nothing but good things about the Yuma hospital and clinics recently, and also has had good personal experiences involving a family member.
The board approved compliance policies, except the conflict of interest one was taken out as the board wanted some legal feedback on some points in the policy.