Greater Regional Health held the last board of trustees meeting for 2019 Monday night at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.
The meeting consisted of reports detailing the events of the year. Dr. Heather Osterbrink started with the medical staff report, detailing the hospital’s change in the no smoking signs to add vaping to the list of prohibited activities. The applications for medical staff were presented and board member Tom Lesan moved to approve them, seconded by member Tom Dunphy. The motion passed unanimously.
Chief Financial Officer Matt McCutchan shared the financial report, which stated the budget is around the approximate projection budgeted for the year.
A capital expenditure request was made by Jackie Whitson for the purchase of new patient vital sign monitors for the facility. Whitson said the old monitors are no longer supported and are in need of replacement. Currently the decision of which supplier to purchase from is between Spacelabs and Mindray. The board unanimously approved the request and intend to look into which supplier will have the best offer for the hospital.
Chief Quality Officer Kim Weehler gave a report on a recent inspection of quality measures, saying there were no adverse words and the hospital was being told it was doing good work. There have been zero catheter-associated urinary tract infections in patients this year, with zero surgical site infections in most surgeries as well.
“There were 24 adverse events avoided, saving the hospital a total of $216,331,” said Weehler.
Weehler also stated the hospital is in talks for the sepsis team to deliver another presentation for a conference in October. The team had previously given a presentation for UnityPoint at the annual leadership retreat Dec. 6.
CEO Monte Neitzel provided his report to the board, discussing a campus tour and visit with a podiatrist for a potential position at the hospital. Neitzel said the doctor had given a letter of intent to work at the facility starting sometime next year.
The next meeting of the board will take place Monday Jan. 27 in the board room of the Medical Arts Plaza at Greater Regional Health Center.