The Nevada Regional Medical Center board members approved an update to the medical staff by-laws that would change how the hospital ensures that in an emergency situation anyone donating services is lawfully allowed to do so among other changes.

Before the meeting began Sara Lawhorne, director of guest services, gave the board a PowerPoint presentation and showed a DVD produced by her department meant to help employees realize the impression they make every time they interact with a patient or one of the patient's family.

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On the DVD, Barone Alzheimer's Care Center Administrator Maureen Short told of her experience at a hospital in St. Louis and how one maintenance worker helped her at a time when she and her husband needed it most. The theme of the program was "You Are the Hospital."

The board approved a plan of action to make the campus of the hospital tobacco-free by September. Willing employees will be given smoking cessation classes and help with the cost of aids to quitting smoking. The public will be informed of the change and encouraged not to smoke on the grounds of the hospital.

The board denied a request by an area physician to help fund the YMCA swimming pool. The physician felt the pool would be beneficial for some types of physical therapy. While the board agreed it could be used that way they felt the proper way to participate in the project would be to contract with the YMCA to provide the pool for therapy as needed.

NRMC CEO Judith Feuquay reported that the Industrial Medicine program is starting to show some results.

"We are starting to see a return of the worker's compensation business that was leaving Nevada," Feuquay said. "Progress is slow, but steady."

In January the Behavioral Health Unit experienced the highest number of admissions since opening, 98, and the average daily census for the month was 17.

Feuquay also told the board she had spoken to a physician recruitment firm about recruiting an internal medicine physician and, since Dr. William Turner had talked of reducing his activities, another surgeon.

The board voted to look into affiliating with Crowder College for a Registered Nurse program to be located on the Nevada Regional Technical Center's north campus. The college is seeking to obtain $45,000 from area institutions for three years, after that the college believes it can finance the cost itself. The discussions with Crowder are still in the preliminary stages but if the college is to open the program the first part of 2007 then there are a lot of details to work out in a limited amount of time.

"I propose we partner with Crowder. We believe this would be a good association for NRMC," Feuquay said. "I don't know what form our participation will take. We can directly cover part of the cost of the program or we can finance slots for students."

In other business the board:

* Heard a report on the demolition of two houses the hospital owned.

* Heard a report on the tests on the floors that came loose and bubbled up in places. The tests have been completed and a report should be ready in two weeks.

* Approved contracts with Dr. John Torontow and Nevada Imaging/Radiology services.

* Approved opening a separate bank account for accounts payable to reduce the confusion in the main account.

* Received educational material titled Create and Maintain a Culture of Patient Safety.