League of Women Voters

Dave Emery, LWV Observer

Reports

1. Staff reported on the use of a Flex-grant the hospital had received to improve and coordinate drug treatment programs in Rice County, and to establish a “Take-it-to-the-box” program for the safe disposal of unused prescription drugs.

2. Staff reported on the continuing effort to implement an electronic medical records system.  The report detailed a multi-year plan, but the Board was only asked to approve one phase, which required an immediate down payment of $15,099.  The hospital hopes to qualify for significant federal grant aid to fund this project.

3. Medical Staff: reported ongoing efforts to reduce the incidence of hospital acquired conditions (HAC).  It was reported that infection rates at NCH are lower than the state average, but that may be due to shorter length-of-stays and a higher portion of outpatient treatment than to extra precautions by the medical staff or hospital.

The results of a self-evaluation by the Board were briefly discussed.

Committee Reports

1. Public Relations: reported on the issues involved with coordinating signage with Mayo and the NCH.  How does one alert the public to the fact that there are Mayo units serving the hospital without giving the impression that NCH is a Mayo hospital?

2. Governance and Planning: an insurance claim was successfully mediated.  No details provided. The Employee Handbook was revised.

3.  Finance: Standard and Poors had reviewed the financial position of the hospital prior to issuing a new rating for the hospital bonds.  No further explanation was given.

4.  Operations: the hospital was working on establishing “medical homes” for chronically ill children to improve the coordination and quality of care.  A new triage phone system is to be operational soon.  Details were being worked out on how the staff of the Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic would relate to the Mayo staff.

Roundtable

1. Several questions were raised regarding the nurse’s strike in the Cities and how it might affect NCH.  NCH is nonunion, but its base pay for nurses is maintained at 95% of the union scale in the Cities.  Some Board members expressed support for continuing the non-union status of NCH nurses.

2. Several questions were raised regarding how the changes in the GAMC program were going to affect the hospital.  There was a concern that the continuity of care for some low-income patients would suffer, and that the hospital would likely experience an increase in uncompensated care as a result of the cuts.

3. It was reported that the City is fast-tracking the process to annex 5 acres of land for the proposed Mayo Cancer Clinic.

4.  It was reported that there had been discussions within City government regarding having NCH make a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes to help with the budget crisis facing the City.