Hospital board discusses purchasing issues, salaries during regular meeting

Thursday, August 28, 2003

The Nevada Regional Medical Center board of directors met Tuesday evening in the new conference room in the new addition to the hospital. The new venue has room for meetings as well as staff development classes. Nursing department representatives were on hand to thank the NRMC board, following Dr. Mitch Magruder's suggestion, for their efforts to increase the salary structure of the nursing staff. They presented a thank you card and also thanked the board in person. Board member Dr. Magruder submitted his resignation due to health. Board president Phil Vinyard said he regretted seeing Magruder leave the board. "Mitch has always been willing to challenge us when we needed to be challenged. His vision and his input will be missed." Magruder said his resignation was a hard decision, one that he didn't take lightly. "I've had problems raising my arms and I knew it was something more serious than rotator cuff damage. Another examination discovered the problem was spinal stenosis. I will be undergoing an operation and it will take three or four months for me to recuperate. I didn't feel I could be a good board member being absent for so long. I'm not a quitter, so this is a very hard decision for me." Robert Ohlen, CEO, told the board the insurance premium for the property and liability insurance for Moore-Few and Barone Alzheimer's units would increase 40 percent to nearly $120,000. By increasing the deductible from $10,000 to $25,000 the hospital will save money on it's property insurance which will be $72,000 instead of the $90,000 it would be if the deductible weren't increased. The board had previously sent out requests for proposal on a letter of credit in case changes in the way cases were handled by Medicare and private insurers resulted in a long delay in receipts for the hospital. Seven requests were sent out and only two were received back. Finance committee chair Norm Tuomi said the committee decided to take a wait and see approach since setting up a line of credit would cost the hospital several thousand dollars whether or not the credit was ever used. In other action the board: * Decided to table the proposed sale of property at 720 S. Adams until an appraisal of the property could be conducted. * Accepted changes in the boards bylaws after a review picked up several minor changes were needed. * Heard information regarding the opening of a new dialysis center in the old Heilig Meyers building. * Approved purchase of a harmonic scalpel and endoscopy lab scopes.

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