Lab and security the focus in hospital purchases

Greater security and safety equipment is coming to Greater Regional Health. The hospital approved three capital purchases during the meeting, from medical lab equipment to security software.

Lab Director Lisa Hagle spoke to the board in favor of the purchase of an Ortho Vision Swift Analyzer, essentially a blood bank analyzer used for any hematological processes requiring safe blood transfusions.

Hagle noted the hospital’s current analyzer is reaching the end of its use and is difficult to use at times.

“It’s getting outdated,” Hagle said. “We purchased that in 2019, so we’re seeing some kind of software issues that we’re having. It’s slower. The monitor is hard to see. So being as it’s about seven, almost eight years old... it’s time to upgrade.”

Units of blood in Greater Regional are rotated every two weeks, requiring tests during each rotation.

With a discounted cost of $67,000 and minimal training due to hospital staff being familiar with the equipment, the board approved the purchase.

Chief Human Resources Officer Amy Rieck requested an upgrade to the hospital’s security systems with changing security doors requiring a badge reader.

The previous system Greater Regional has been using for certain wings was Permar, which Rieck described as outdated. Recently, certain sections of the hospital have been using the Verkada system, which included additional cameras for the doors.

Limitations of the old system has led to challenges at Greater Regional. Rieck said the hospital’s emergency room, under the Permar system, can’t see who is at the door during early morning hours. This is mitigated in the Verkada system with additional cameras.

Rieck requested $100,000 for swapping the security system and merging the old system to a full Verkada hospital. The requisition was approved.

Senior Systems Analyst Mark Williams requested the board purchase additional features with Microsoft Intune for the hospital’s security and data screening.

Although the initial fee will be $47,000 for installation and training, Williams expects the annual cost to be much lower. The board approved the software.

In other Greater Regional Health news...

Progress has been made on multiple grants, including two Best and Brightest grants. For the equipment side, funds of $2.5 million will be used toward a surgical robot, approved by the board in previous meetings. Training has already begun for the equipment and will be used for services this summer.

For the Best and Brightest provider grant, Greater Regional will use funds from the grant to recruit an oncological nurse practitioner and an oncological RN potential for $120,000 each.

The next board meeting will take place Monday, May 18 to avoid conflicting with Memorial Day.