NH&C Board Meeting. Sept. 28, 2023
The Consent Agenda was approved.
Changes to the Hospital/City Playbook: Previously, a joint committee of City and Hospital Board members put together a “ playbook” to guide ongoing conversations between the two bodies. Today’s action was to finalize some changes in dates for appointments and reappointments.
Lonsdale Medical Clinic: The NH&C clinic in Lonsdale will close on Nov. 17, and the building will be sold. When the Clinic opened, the expectation was that the area would rapidly grow in population. Growth has been slower than projected and NH&C is consolidating services. (It was noted that the instructions dealing with property in the Hospital/City Playbook were designed to fit Northfield and don’t necessarily apply to other cities.)
CEO Underdahl reported that the Northfield Retirement Community is transitioning their skilled nursing beds to “assisted living” space. A recent study concluded that the number of skilled nursing beds in Northfield is adequate. Mental health services are being added to the. Faribo Clinic. The clinical services will be provided by Cashman Associates. NH&C’s role is that of landlord.
The benefits from the cost reduction program underway at NH&C will show up soon. The immediate impact has been a reduction in revenue and some cost increase. The hiring of expensive “temps” is ending so costs should decrease. The Birthing Center is fully staffed. The Urgent Care Center in Northfield is now fully staffed and hours of operation have been extended: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. M – F and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. S&S. A campaign is being planned to inform the community, including colleges, employers, parents, etc. of the changes.
Finances: The providers are busy, but operating losses continue: Operating Losses totaled -$815 thousand for August and -$8.1 million YTD. The Days of Cash on Hand is 141: roughly half what It was in Dec. 2020.
The meeting was paused at 6:50 p.m. and the Board then went into a closed session.
Northfield Hospital Observer REport: NH&C Board Meeting, 9.28.23
