Update

The nurse practitioner that had recently signed a contract with our facility has backed out due to family reasons. GCHD will continue to recruit for two additional providers, ideally a M.D. and a mid-level provider.

Co-CEOs Mat Slaybaugh and Jayd Keener are working with a company called Allevant whose focus is primarily helping critical access hospitals (CAH) boost their swing-bed programs. Their origins began in the Midwest in the Mayo Clinic to help larger hospitals save money by transferring patients sooner. They assist CAH’s with swing-bed programs accept patients with higher acuity level transiting into nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities.

Alleviant would benefit the nursing and provider staff as they would receive education from medical doctors to improve our services and possibly add new ones, receive marketing strategies, and utilize the branding of the Mayo Clinic. The majority of the cost can be recaptured on the cost report and Jim Heilsberg, CFO, is researching this further.

The hospital is applying for a grant through Group Health Foundation. They offer three levels of grants with the highest one at $100,000 per year for three years with no restrictions on what the money can be used for.

Several flu shot clinics are being offered at no cost to the public and will be conducted at various organizations in the community such as the elementary and high schools, the Senior Center, the Garfield County Courthouse and the Pomeroy Medical Clinic.

A meeting with electrical engineers will take place at the end of October. They estimate they will be able to complete the first phase of the electrical infrastructure update with the current $245,000 grant received from the Commerce Department earlier this year.

The hospital received data from USAIO website that Garfield County has the highest rate of diabetes in the state at 14.8%. Discussions with the Medical Director, dietician, and clinic staff was a focused topic at the Medical Staff Meeting last month to look for ways to educate the public.

The Interim Cost Report is almost complete and will be filed at the end of October. CFO Heilsberg is working on the 2020 Budget that he will give to the Finance Committee for review before being presented to Commissioners.