NRMC provides high quality of care

"The service and quality of care are the same as you would get in a larger facility. We meet the same standards as the hospitals do that are in Joplin and Kansas City," Judy Feuquay, Nevada Regional Medical Center CEO, told the Nevada City Council Tuesday night during her annual report.

She said that the main difference is that NRMC does not offer as broad a range of services as are available in a larger hospital.

She said that the hospital is in phase 3 of their conversion from being non-computerized to a hospital-wide computerized information system.

Feuquay told the council that as part of the hospital's overall master plan they are in the process of moving their rehabilitation services to a new facility at 305 S. Barrett.

"This will make it easier for people needing those facilities," she said.

It will also allow the hospital to expand some other services into the area that will be vacated.

The move has allowed the hospital to open a NowCare clinic that will be operated by John Torontow, until a permanent staff doctor can be located and a nurse practitioner.

Feuquay said that the hospital has added two new psychiatrists to their staff in the last year and will be adding a new radiologist in 2011.

She told the council that the hospital continues to look for family practitioners, obstetrics and ear, eye, nose and throat doctors.

In other business the council:

* Voted 5-0 to approve a contract not to exceed $130,00 for approximately 10,400 tons of various sizes of rock for the public works department from the low bidder, Ash Grove Aggregates of Butler.

* Voted 5-0 to approve a contract not to exceed $130,000 for concrete for the public works department from the low bidder, Nevada Concrete.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving an addendum to the city contract with Sprouls Construction for the new terminal at the Nevada Municipal Airport. The addendum contains requirements to fulfill the city's Community Development Block Grant obligations.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving an agreement with the Missouri Safety Center to provide $2,100 in funding for overtime enforcement of five statewide campaigns: the Holiday DWI campaign, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Fourth of July, as well as the "You Drink and Drive, You LOSE" campaign.

* Voted 5-0, at the request of the city manager, to postpone until Dec. 15 action on the city's agreement with M-NOD Taxi and Shuttle to operate the city's taxi coupon program.

* Voted 5-0, at the request of the city manager, to postpone until the Dec. 15 Council meeting consideration of a contract with the Western Missouri 911 Dispatch Center.

* Voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1273 approving a revised substance abuse policy, which applies to the city's taxi coupon program.

Voted 5-0 to give final approval to a special ordinance to change the zoning at 420 W. Cherry St. from R-3, apartment district, to C-3, commercial district to allow Brent Ernsbarger to expand storage and parking at his business.

* Voted 4-0, with Sherry Steward abstaining because her son is an intern at DSWA, to pass on second reading a special ordinance approving a contract with DSWA Certified Public Accountants, PC, to conduct the city's 2009 annual audit, with the option of having them conduct the next four audits.

* Voted 5-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance approving an accounting consultation agreement with Diehl, Banwart & Bolton PC. This will allow the city to consult with Terry Sercer on accounting matters during the absence of city treasurer Paul Hokanson, who is undergoing medical treatments.