Governance

Washington County Hospital

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Conference Rooms A and B 

Members Present:

Dale Blohm, Chair

David Behr

Greg Engele

Bill Manier

J. W. Metcalf

Diane Nottmeyer

Rich Tomaszewski 

Others Present:

Nancy Newby, CEO

Ruth Kellerman, QA Coordinator (exited 8:40 p.m.)

 Kim Larkin, CIO (exited 8:40 p.m.)

Elaine Matzenbacher, CFO

Melodie Wilkey, HR Director (exited 8:40 p.m.)

Patricia “Pat” Carr, FNP (exited 7:23 p.m.)

Christine Bening, HR Coordinator (exited 7:23 p.m.) 

Others Not Present:

Marc Zerbe, M.D., Medical Staff President, absent Tammy Amizich, excused 

Called to Order: 7:15 p.m.

Adjourned:  9:01 p.m. 

Meeting Agenda

The agenda of the March 23, 2010, meeting of the Washington County Hospital Board of Directors was presented for review and approval.   

On a motion by Greg Engele and second by Bill Manier, the Board unanimously voted to approve the March 23, 2010, meeting agenda. 

Introductions and Welcome

Nancy introduced new hires Pat Carr, FNP, mid-level provider in WCH RHC, and Christine Bening, Human Resources Coordinator.   

Pat comes with 12 years of nursing experience having received her ADN from Kaskaskia College, BSN from McKendree College and MS/FNP from SIU-Edwardsville.  As a nurse she has worked at Murray Center, in a wound care facility, in a chronic healthcare setting, and as an FNP she’s worked at walk-in clinics and hospitals.  Pat is from Centralia and started at WCH in mid-February. 

Christine is from Okawville and is returning to work after a two-year hiatus at home with her two children.  Christine comes with 11 years of HR experience receiving her BA from U of I at Urbana-Champaign, MA at Washington University-St. Louis and is PHR certified.  Her last position was as HR manager at Republic of Tea and prior to that she was a corporate training, technical support of HR and payroll services and customer support analyst.  Christine will start March 29th.   

Board members then introduced themselves. 

Previous Board Meeting Minutes

Finance Committee Meetings Minutes

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

Special Board Meeting Minutes

 

Nominating Committee Meeting Minutes

The following meetings minutes were presented for review and approval:

• Board meeting, February 23, 2010. 
• Finance Committee meetings, February 11 and 23, 2010.
• Executive Committee meeting, March 9, 2010.
• Special Board meeting, March 11, 2010.
• Nominating Committee meeting, March 11, 2010.
  

On a motion by Rich Tomaszewski and second by J. W. Metcalf, the Board unanimously voted to approve the aforementioned meetings minutes. 

Financial and Statistical Report

Elaine Matzenbacher presented the Financial and Statistical Report for February 2010.  Highlights of the report were: 

Total Patient Revenue was $1,968,223.  Total Provisions were $811,526.  Total Net Operating Revenue was $1,219,353.  Total Operating Expenses were $1,260,000.  Income from Operations was ($40,647), with YTD Income ($665,553).  Total Non-Operating Revenue was $45,061, with YTD Total Non-Operating Revenue of $439,078.  Total Income was $4,414, with YTD Total Income of ($226,475), as compared to a budgeted $170,910. 

Additional noted items:

• Total Patient Revenues were 5.4% ($112,055) under budget, primarily related to February being a 28 day month and our budget is simply revenue divided by 12 months. 
• Other Operating Revenue was over budget in the month by $28,736; Medicaid monthly and quarterly reimbursements were received.
• Employee benefits were 77.6% ($87,814) over budget this month.  We made the final accrual of $39,000 for one third of the quarterly installment that we paid to Blue Cross in February.  This assessment was for high claims in October, November and December. 
• Bad debts were 30.1% under budget in February. 
• Total noncurrent cash and investments - $1,435,205 compared to last year’s $851,629.
• To date, March has been a strong month--volume has been up with revenue over budget.
  

On a motion by Greg Engele and second by Bill Manier, the Board unanimously voted to approve the February 2010 Financial and Statistical Report. 

Quality Report

Ruth Kellerman, quality coordinator, gave a Quality Report as follows:

• “Illinois Hospital Caring for You” website will enable the public to compare data of Illinois hospitals.  Data categories include:  (1) Hospital Information, (2) Quality Care, (3) Patient Satisfaction, (4) Patients Served by Illness, (5) Hospital Services, (6) Nursing Care, and (7) Caring for our Community.
• The site is being updated and may be previewed by hospitals, only, at this time.  However, it should be on-line for public access by the end of April 2010.
• Ruth is WCH’s “point person” for this program.
• A detailed handout was distributed (copy on file).  This will be put on WCH’s website.

Proposed Slate of Board Officers FY2010-11 

Nominating Committee Chair Diane Nottmeyer reported that the Committee met in March and recommended the following slate of officers for FY2010-11.

• Chair – Dale Blohm
• 1st Vice Chair – J. W. Metcalf
• 2nd Vice Chair – Diane Nottmeyer
• Treasurer – Greg Engele
• Secretary – Rich Tomaszewski
  

On a motion by Diane Nottmeyer and second by David Behr, the Board unanimously voted to approve the aforementioned slate of Board officers for FY2010-11. 

Board Committees Appointments FY2010-11

Chair Dale Blohm made the following Board Committees appointments for FY 2010-11:

 

Executive Committee

a. Dale Blohm - Chair

b. J. W. Metcalf- First Vice Chair

c. Diane Nottmeyer - Second Vice Chair

d. Greg Engele - Treasurer

e. Rich Tomaszewski - Secretary

f. (Past Chair - Vacant)

g. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

 

Finance Committee

a. Greg Engele - Chair

b. David Behr

c. Diane Nottmeyer

d. Rich Tomaszewski

e. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

 

Buildings and Grounds

a.J. W. Metcalf - Chair

b.Greg Engele 

c. Bill Manier

d. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

 

Joint Conference Committee

a. Dale Blohm - Chair

b. Diane Nottmeyer

c. Rich Tomaszewski

d. Marc Zerbe, M.D. - Medical Staff President

e. Robin Biermann, M.D. - Medical Staff Vice President

 f. Alfonso Urdaneta, M.D. - Medical Staff Secretary

g. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

 

Nominating Committee

a. Diane Nottmeyer - Chair

b. Bill Manier

c. J. W. Metcalf

d. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

 

Personnel, Recruitment & Management Contract Review Committee

 

a. Rich Tomaszewski - Chair

b. Greg Engele

c. J. W. Metcalf

d. Nancy Newby - Ex-officio Member

Community Education Program

Nancy reminded the Board that WCH will host a community education program on Thursday, March 25th on the topics of “Asthma” and “Smoking Cessation.”  Dr. Keith JenKins and graduate student Andrea Epplin, RN, will be the speakers. 

Budget Update

Elaine gave an update on the FY2010-11 Budget process as follows:

• A Preliminary Budget was presented and reviewed at the March 25th Finance Committee.  Suggestions will be incorporated into the Budget.
• The final Budget will be presented for approval at the April Board meeting.
• Assumptions, Budget and supporting materials will be mailed to Board members for review prior to the April meeting.

 

Legislative Update

Nancy gave legislative updates as follows:

• House Bill 5765 and Senate Bill 3264
• Both bills were passed wherein these will change Critical Access Hospitals Medicaid reimbursements to be cost-based.  She discussed the benefits for rural hospitals.
• On March 17th, Nancy and six other healthcare executives met with Governor Quinn to discuss the State budget.  The Hospital Assessment Fund would fund these bills which would cost $12 million—less than 1% of the State budget.  Based on WCH’s 2007 figures, we would receive $800,000.  It is unknown when funds would be disbursed.
• Provena Case
• Last week the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the Provena Covenant Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital in Urbana, did not provide enough charity care to qualify for property tax breaks in 2002.  The ruling could have implications for every tax-exempt hospital in the nation.  Provena is required to pay property taxes for 2002 and subsequent years to date.
• In Illinois, this is the first of over 20 hospitals which are in line for review.
• University of Illinois Law Professor John Colombo, who has written extensively on hospital property tax exemption, stated in his blog, “the case did not actually provide a definitive answer to what hospitals are required to do in order to get property tax exemption in Illinois.”

 

Inpatient (IP) Electronic Health Record (EHR)

The purchase of an inpatient (IP) electronic health record (EHR) system was reviewed and discussed as follows:

• Reviewed federal mandates on healthcare-related entities to implement EHR’s and to meet all aspects of “meaningful use.” If required timeframes are not met, entities will be penalized. 
• Discussed Stimulus funds available on first requested basis.  WCH may obtain 93% funding if criterion is met; time is critical—need to act immediately.
• Reviewed NextGen’s (NG) business history and its stability.
• Reviewed NG’s history with WCH.  Again, timing is of the essence; NG wants a signed agreement with WCH by March 31, 2010, for Opus IP EHR.  It would be mutually beneficial:  (1) WCH receives deep discounts on the purchase; (2) WCH already utilizes NG’s outpatient and business software; and (3) WCH would be a beta site for NG. 
• Discussed project stages and timeframes.
• Discussed alternative financing options.
• Reviewed advantages of EHR.

 

On a motion by Bill Manier and second by Greg Engele, the Board took a roll call vote to approve to enter into an agreement with NextGen for the purchase of the NextGen/Opus inpatient electronic health record system at a cost of $472,743.  A Cost Report settlement cash back of $439,084 (92.88%) would result in a $33,695 expense not reimbursed. 

Behr NAY, Engele AYE, Manier AYE, Metcalf AYE, Nottmeyer AYE, Tomaszewski NAY.  Motion carried. 

Community Comments/Questions and Answers

Dave Volz, Nashville News reporter, will contact Kim Larkin tomorrow to discuss the IP EHR. 

Closed Meeting

At 8:40 p.m. on a motion by Greg Engele and second by David Behr, the Board took a roll call vote to enter closed session under Open Meetings Public Act 88-621 Sections 2(C)(11)(21).  Blohm AYE, Behr AYE, Engele AYE, Manier AYE, Metcalf AYE, Nottmeyer AYE, Tomaszewski AYE.  Motion carried. 

At 9:00 p.m. on a motion by David Behr and second by Greg Engele, the Board took a roll call vote to leave closed session and re-enter open session.  Blohm AYE, Behr AYE, Engele AYE, Manier AYE, Metcalf AYE, Nottmeyer AYE, Tomaszewski AYE.  Motion carried. 

Board Closed Meeting Minutes

The following meetings minutes were presented for review and approval:

• Board closed minutes, February 23, 2010.
  

 

On a motion by Greg Engele and second by Diane Nottmeyer, the Board unanimously voted to approve the aforementioned meeting minutes with correction as noted. 
 

Adjournment

On a motion by J. W. Metcalf and second by Rich Tomaszewski, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:01 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Richard Tomaszewski, Secretary

Board of Directors

Washington County Hospital