Health System receives a $1.13 million grant

DAYTON-The Columbia County Hospital District Board were advised of a grant; updates on River’s Walk Assisted Living; RoseMary’s Place Childcare; presented with the results from a quality improvement survey; and heard other business during the April 24 meeting.

The hospital district was given a $1.13 million grant for distressed hospitals, according to CEO Shane McGuire. March revenues for both in-patient and out-patient services were under budget though the acute care/swing bed census was strong and the higher than budgeted revenue helped off-set the loss. Gross revenue reached $3.98 million which fell short of the $4.7 million budget. McGuire said they are working to “troubleshoot various revenue cycle challenges.” For the expense budget, contract labor was well under budget by $131k. But overall, the expense budget was $584 over budget mainly due to salaries and benefits.

Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Carpenter recently took on the new role of administrator of River’s Walk Assisted Living. She reported that as of April 17 Cottage D opened and has four residents admitted with three additional in the process of moving in which leaves six open rooms. There are also five prospective residents. Currently, River’s Walk has 32 residents with four admitted to hospice.

McGuire reported that RoseMary’s Place opened for childcare services on April 22. The project has a surplus budget of nearly $38k. He told the Board that they were invited to speak at the Investing in Rural America round table event on April 18 where they spoke about the childcare project. Specifically, McGuire shared “the positive impact it will have on household financial security, household career goals, and the associated positive health outcomes.” He affirmed that “childcare is a health-related social need.”

A report was given for quality improvement based on 72 surveys on customer satisfaction for the third quarter of last year (July-September). They included about fifteen for each of the five medical care providers. The ratings varied but averaged about 77% patient satisfaction for each provider. For the clinic, two categories of timely appointments/information and the courteous helpfulness of office staff saw a decrease in satisfaction of 12% and 14% respectively. The issue of the phone system, as well as not being informed of test results continues to be focuses of concern.

McGuire interjected that the phone system is not necessarily the issue because when patients call in nurses are sometimes with other patients or on another call. Also, when staff calls patients with test results, they do not always answer. It was pointed out that when they establish a working customer portal, patients can access test results without having to call in or being available when called. Results for the hospital showed positive feedback for cleanliness and assisting displaced patients once discharged in finding housing.