DCMH Board discusses rehab facility

Mar. 29—GREENSBURG — The Decatur County Memorial Hospital board met March 28. Asset purchases for January and February were approved along with the previous meeting's minutes.

Catherine Keck read the financial report. There were 93 inpatient admissions in February, 16 births, 32 emergency room visits and 16 surgical operations. Revenue for the month was just short of budget at approximately $14,000 with expenses slightly below 1.7%. Keck noted that financially, February was "very strong for the hospital — our investment revenue did quite well." The financial report was accepted as presented.

Board secretary Bryan Robbins reviewed the compliance, risk management and audit committee report. The CRA committee met Feb. 6 and were informed that the tech side of the hospital had efficient security tests demonstrating continued security improvement with staff. The CRA report was accepted as presented.

Malcolm Myers read the finance committee report. The committee met Feb. 27 and the week of March 25. At February's meeting, they reviewed January's financials and were debriefed on the Change Healthcare cyberattack. The committee also reviewed five audits and have continued monitoring the hospital assessment fee. A final assessment fee for 2022 is expected in March. Finally, the finance committee reviewed insurance quotes, discussed ongoing pharmacy projects and heard what Myers called a "deep review" of the full financial statement by CFO Catherine Keck.

At the March meeting, the committee reviewed February's financials and five different audits. The members also reviewed an analysis of accounts receivable. The cyberattack did affect some payments. The hospital assessment fee has been finalized and totals approximately $550,000.

Both financial committee reports were approved as presented.

The investment subcommittee held an off-cycle meeting, Malcolm Myers read the report. The committee reviewed the investment policy and set some new goals. First, the committee wants to hold a formal policy review in a special, off-cycle meeting moving forward. The committee also plans to use those meetings to work on improving total return on investments, prudently, and has been working with DCMH's investment managers and a team from Yellow Cardinal to get recommendations in managing the investment portfolio. The investment subcommittee report was approved as presented.

The planning committee met March 5, Larry Rueff reviewed the committee report. The committee discussed the new rehab building which is operational, "offices are being moved over," Rueff noted, and employees are still settling in. There was some preliminary discussion about possibly remodeling or restructuring the second floor of the hospital's main building now that the rehab facility is open. The planning committee report was accepted as presented.

The quality management committee met March 20 and reviewed the STEEEP (Safe, Timely, Effective, Efficient, Equitable, Patient-Centered) framework metrics, identifying strengths and weaknesses to improve. The committee then discussed action plans for procedures and practices. The report was accepted as presented.

An update has been made to the DCMH financial policy as required by the IRS. This will be posted on the hospital's website and property guidelines are also being updated. The property guidelines provide everyone an opportunity to get assistance if they can't afford their healthcare. These revisions were approved.

DCMH's reassessment policy has also been updated — this was approved.

Contracts were renewed for Dr. Singh and Dr. Gallup. One new staff member, Joshua Rosenberg DO- Telerad/Surgery — Summit Radiology, was appointed. There were five staff members who resigned or were terminated within the past month:

* Dr. Jugnoo Husain, MD, Pathologist — Ameripath

* Samanth Morgan, PA-C, Indy Gastro

* Erin Murphy, FNP-BC, Indy Gastro

* Ayad Agha, DO, Teleradiology/Surgery — Summit Radiology

* Dale Lockman, PA, Emergency Medicine/Medicine — TeamHealth

The contract renewal, new staff appointment and five staff resignations/terminations were all approved. Capital requests were approved. Conflict of interest statements were approved.

Rex McKinney gave the CEO update, noting that as board member Larry Rueff previously mentioned, the rehab building is open. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, the cardiac rehab program, women's care and Southern Indiana Ortho have all moved in. There was a mishap involving a sewer line earlier this month which was addressed. DCMH has been attending local job fairs to recruit local talent and educate the community about health care. The recent women's health expo was a "great success," per McKinney. The CEO update was approved as presented.

The next DCMH board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 25.

Contact Aaron Kirchoff at aaron.kirchoff@greensburgdailynews.com