Submitted by Ann Ness, League Observer
Here is a timeline of interest to those of you following the Hospital Restructuring Proposal (handed out at the City Council/Hospital Board work session 8-25-05):
August 25 Council suggests that Hospital Board make a recommendation
September 12 Council acts on resolution to ask for recommendation
September 29 Hospital Board develops and approves a recommendation,
including suggested schedule for implementation
October 10 Council receives recommendation and decides next steps
October 17 Council receives and acts on suggested process and schedule for decision (if applicable)August 25, 2005 Meeting:
The Hospital Board had an unusually early meeting so that the Hospital Board could meet in a work group session with the City Council at 7:00 p.m. Board Chair Steve Delzer called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m. Minutes of the 7/28/05 Board Meeting were approved. Application for Medical Staff Memberships were approved and four resignations were accepted. Board members had received a copy of the Hospital Bylaws at the last meeting to review. There were no recommendations for revisions. The Board members had also received the 3rd Quarter Summary of Strategic & Organizational Objectives at the last meeting. No issues were raised so no action was needed.David Oliver reported that the Women's Health Staff had been moved to the Hospital and opened for business on August 8. (A tour was planned for after the meeting.) He said the new space was confined but was working well. The staff was happy to be on site. With respect to the Lonsdale Clinic, the roof is on, the precast stone is on, and the cultured stone similar to the Hospital's, is on. The first layer of stucco is on and the third layer is on one side of the building. The building looks like it should. He will nail down the possession date. The door frames have been delayed one week. The roof trusses adjustments took some extra time. Dr. Jose Fulco will be starting in October. He has been in practice for 13 years. David Raniero in general surgery with Allina will also be working there.
Ken Bank related the Farmington situation with the "drama and trauma of a trout stream." In the process of doing due diligence, it was discovered that at the back edge of the property, there is a trout stream, which even though completely dry, is still a trout stream in the eyes of the DNR. Also, a ditch is now a "tributary" or wetland. This discovery may require an environmental assessment which may take too many months to be feasible. As a result, the Hospital is now looking at other sites in Lakeville. Ken says that the Hospital Board needs to know by the next meeting where we are.Roger Stapek reported that there were 155 more admissions in July. There is a positive cash flow.
Ken reported on two resignations. The Emergency Director is leaving to join a private clinic in the Twin Cities on October 15. The Director of Human Resources will retire October 2.
Ken commented on recent power outages and failures of the cooling system. He reports that the Hospital is out of space in the server room. They are looking at back-up feeds. At the present location there is only one electrical feed. There is no second transformer source at present. Also there is no outside lighting or signage when power goes out. The Hospital is having electricians price out additions. A booster station for water is needed in order to serve any additional facilities. He is working with Heidi Hamilton at the City. No additional booster station is expected before next spring.
The Hospital Board concluded its short meeting at 5:17 p.m. and then went into Executive Session to review 2006 Strategic Objectives. Following that, there was a tour of the Women's Health Center. The Registration desk for the Women's Health Center is right around the corner from the general reception desk, in the Atrium where there is a fireplace. There are two people at that desk and there is room for medical records. The staff now escorts patients to the Women's Health Center. There will eventually be a sub-waiting area right outside the Women's Health Center location. An LPN and Certified Medical Assistant help with labs. They will be adding an LPN to supervise. There are six exam rooms. There have been as many as 45 visits a day. Thirty visits is average but it is moving up to 40. Rice County Family Planning has made an agreement for services.
The Hospital Board met at 7 p.m. with the City Council for a work session. Mayor Lee Lansing facilitated. The purpose of the meeting was for the Restructuring Committee to present to the Council and the Hospital Board information that they have been gathering. There was no public input. Comment cards were handed out if any of the public wanted to leave a message. The focus of the evening was on the 501 (c) (3) model. The mayor said that other options pale in complexity to this model so that most time would be spent on it.
As identified in the Timeline above, the Council will request that the Hospital Board come forward with a recommendation after its next meeting in September.
