Hospital foundation introduces its new coordinator to board

Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation Chair Joe Kraft along with NRMC Auxiliary President Maxine Halcomb addressed the hospital board Tuesday evening. The two gave reports on their respective groups to the board. Kraft began by praising the auxiliary and their donation of time and money to the hospital.

"I want to give a hand to the auxiliary," Kraft said. "They do so much for the hospital, they really deserve a hand."

Kraft also praised the former foundation coordinator, Linda Schmitz. "Linda Schmitz left to go back to the Peace Corps and it was a great loss for us," Kraft said. "Foundation assets in 2002 were $229,479; in '03 they were 251,385; in '04 they were $335,585 and in '05 they are $351,250. That shows what can be done with a great foundation coordinator."

Kraft joked that as the chair of the foundation he did little actual work. "As with all my endeavors I don't do much, I just sit there and others do all the work," Kraft said.

Kraft announced the new coordinator would be Kimberly Cook, and told the board she would be coming up with new fund-raising ideas for the foundation as well as continuing the projects already in place.

Kraft thanked the board and hospital CEO Judith Feuquay. "I do want to thank you Judy for all you've done," Kraft said "That's my report and we're really proud of it -- and we hope you are, too."

During her presentation, Halcomb gently teased Kraft over his statement about his managerial style. "I'm glad Joe Kraft can sit and do nothing, but as president of the auxiliary I'm too busy for sitting," Halcomb said.

Halcomb told the board the auxiliary worked a total of 9,846 hours for the hospital, which if paid at the minimum wage of $5.50 per hour would cost $54,153. Feuquay noted that those hours represent the equivalent of 4.73 full time employees.

In addition to the labor the auxiliary provided the hospital, the group also donated $18,171.83 for greenery for the front lobby, decor and furniture for the Women's Imaging Center waiting area and moving the mammogram and bone density equipment.

During her CEO report, Feuquay reviewed the decision not to pursue designation of the hospital as a critical access hospital and told the board that considering the relatively small financial difference and the relatively large impact on the hospital's bed space the decision was appropriate.

The Industrial Medicine Program is underway and there have been contacts made with two local companies, 3M and Murphy Family Ventures, to encourage them to join the program Feuquay said.

Feuquay told the board the financial picture was rosy with the hospital showing a net income of $1,359,187 when the budget called for only $553,078 for fiscal year 2005.

Feuquay credited less salaries and wages, less other expense, less repairs/purchased services and less supply expense than budgeted for as well as more non-operating revenue and more other operating revenue than was originally budgeted.

Feuquay said that physician recruitment is under way with a surgeon and a family practice physician being actively sought. Feuquay also noted that Emergency Room Director Jerry Jumper plans to stay on to provide medical direction but will not work shifts in the ER.

Feuquay announced that Jama Bogart passed her Missouri Board exams and is now licensed as a nurse practitioner, which will allow her to take on additional duties in the Behavioral Health Unit.

Feuquay told the board the hospital had a new Information Technology director, Ken Ambrozewski, who will join the staff Aug. 1.

Feuquay went over the business plan for 2006 and 2007 with the board. Some of the goals in the plan included keeping the cash reserves above the level required and to achieve 90 percent productivity. Converting medical records filing system to digital was also a priority.

Other goals included making infrastructure improvements and increasing worker satisfaction.

In other business the board:

* Renewed contracts for anesthesia services and coordinated transportation services.

* Approved the costs for the Behavioral Health Unit, moving the Pharmacy and updating the sprinkler system in the south tower.

* Approved renewing the license for the 3M encoder and Healthworks compliance checker software.

* Approved the business plan for 2006 and 2007.