Opening
- Steve O’Neill called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Agenda and Consent Agenda were approved. The Consent Agenda included Minutes for the August Board Meeting, Minutes of a Community Relations Committee Meeting, the 2020 Board Meeting Schedule, and the Annual Review of Quality and Performance Improvement Policy.
Reports
- Hospital Chief of Staff—Dr. Jeff Meland. No report. Meland presented the applications for Medical Staff Membership/Privileges. Applications approved.
Strategic Discussion
Deferred to the closed session to follow.
Presentations/Discussion/Action Items
- Approval to replace Ultrasound and C-Arm—Lisa Lang. One of the ultrasound machines and one of the C-Arm X-ray machines have reached the end of their useful life. The ultrasound is 13 years old; The C-arm is 12 years old. The technology of both machines is outdated; repairs are frequent; and the quality of the images produced is substandard. After consulting with the staff, purchasing group, and service provider, the hospital recommended purchasing new GE machines. The Board approved the purchase of a GE Logiq E10 ultrasound machine for $147,782.20, and a GEOEC Elite CFD for $194,995.50. Both items were in the 2019 Capital Budget. Post warranty service from GE for the ultrasound machine will cost about $10,000 a year, and for the C-arm machine about $21,000 a year.
- Enterprise Risk Management Update—Laura Peterson. Peterson reviewed the time-line for the project and reported that the project is on schedule. The various units within the hospital are each working to identify the risks within their domain. The Board will be updated again at the December Board meeting.
Executive and Committee Reports
- CEO Report—Steve Underdahl. a) Strategic—negotiations with Stanford Medical regarding EHRs continue. b) Building—a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the start of construction on the clinic expansion. Work will soon be finished on the Faribault Clinic. c) Operations—Version 5.1 of the proposed revision to the PERA law is being edited and the community hospitals are working to find a legislative sponsor. The new signage for NH&C is up. The team is working on a vision statement for Patient Facing Technology project. The expense control project continues. It is difficult work for everyone, but it has made a significant impact. Employees may be feeling stressed by the financial challenges reported below, but they remain committed to the institution. The staff has been reduced by 5%, but the patient volume is down 10%.
- Financial Report—Scott Edin. Inpatient services were under budget for the month of August; Operating Revenues were under budget; expenses were over budget. Net Operating Income was only $119 thousand; over half a million dollars under budget. Income from operations remains slightly negative for the year thus far. Net Income still remains positive for the year due to over $3.7 million of Non-operating Income thus far.
- Quality Committee Report—Charlie Mandile. The Quality “Dashboard” numbers will be discussed at the Oct. Board Meeting.
The regular Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm, and the Board went into closed session to discuss Strategic Planning.
