Greenwood County Hospital’s (GWCH) new Marketing/ Foundation Director Rachel Sample, RN, was introduced at the Tuesday, Nov. 25, GWCH Board of Trustees meeting. Sample began Nov. 3 and has been working to improve the hospital’s online presence. Her current projects include managing GWCH’s Facebook page, as well as creating an Instagram account for the hospital. Sample told the board that she is also working on the hospital’s Google page, where she has added photographs and information, including services offered by GWCH. “She is doing a fabulous job,” said CEO Sandra Dickerson, who called Sample the “face” of GWCH on the website.
Quality/Risk Manager Melissa Jones presented the risk management plan and quality report to the board. A risk management plan is a thorough document identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks to patients, staff, and the hospital. Jones explained that the plan must be updated every year. She described the approval process, saying the plan is first approved by the medical staff, then the hospital board of trustees, and finally the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for final approval. Jones said the only new changes made to the plan this year were to update the names of risk management and medical staff committee members. The board approved the risk management and quality plan as presented.
Resignation of board member
Dickerson announced that board member Jan Stephens had submitted her resignation beginning in November. Her 4-year term was up, and she has elected not to continue in the role. Her resignation was accepted. As a result, the board elected to appoint Christina Harrison as board secretary to take Stephens’ place. Harrison will hold the position until 2026, when the board re-organizes with the new member.
Regarding the open seat vacated by Stephens, Dickerson said that she had been approached by an individual, Lonnie Nichols, who would be interested in the role. All members of the Greenwood County Hospital Board of Trustees are chosen and appointed by the Greenwood County Commission. Dickerson asked the board if they would approve her presenting Nichols’s name for consideration at the upcoming County Commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 1. Board Member Kevin Hough stated that he had worked with Nichols previously on another board and found him to be highly competent and felt he would do well as a member of the hospital board. The board voted to approve the presentation of Nichols’ name for consideration. County Commissioner Judd Everitt stated that the county has also been considering J.J. Smith for the open board position and that they may vote on the matter on Monday. CEO Report
In her CEO report, Dickerson updated the board regarding the 2025 provider tax preprint, which she said has been approved but not yet signed by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). The preprint, or pre-approval, increases the provider tax from 3% to 6%. This will generate revenue from prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals in Kansas, which in turn is matched by federal Medicaid dollars.
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The matched funds are sent back to Kansas, where 97% gets distributed to the PPS hospitals that paid in. The other 3% are distributed to CAH, or Critical Access Hospitals, like Greenwood County Hospital, so they get to share in the benefit although they had not paid in. A PPS hospital is one that is reimbursed for inpatient services based on a predetermined, fixed amount rather than the actual cost of care. “These are your large hospitals,” explained Dickerson.
Dickerson went on to say that the provider tax preprint for 2026, which would allow CAH hospitals to pay into that fund, allowing those hospitals to receive a bigger share, has not yet been approved. Its approval is not guaranteed, Dickerson said, “but we are hopeful.” Even if the 2026 preprint is not approved, GWCH will still be able to participate with the 2025 provider tax.
Dickerson spoke briefly about the challenges facing the 340B discount drug program. 340B is a federal program that allows hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs at discounted prices. Those savings can be used to offset costs elsewhere, allowing care for patients who cannot afford to pay. Dickerson said pharmaceutical companies are lobbying against the program and are instead pushing for a type of rebate system. Dickerson says that members of Congress recognize the help 340B offers to hospitals and are actively working to maintain the program.
D.O.N.
In her director of nursing report, Sonjia Lemons presented the board with utilization reports for September and October. A utilization report evaluates the use of healthcare resources within a facility. The reports showed nothing of concern, said Lemons, and made a positive note that wound care patient numbers are going up.
Lemons also said that several new PRN staff have been hired, which has helped ease the burden on the core staff. Dickerson added that the hospital’s employee vacancies are as low as they have been since the pandemic hit. “I now have only two open spots for nursing staff,” said Lemons.
Financial statements were not presented due to ongoing challenges caused by the changeover to the new Cerner software, which went live in June. Incoming data is being filtered through both the old (Athena) and new (Cerner) electronic record systems, causing certain reports to require additional scrutiny. CFO Melody York explained that she has been working diligently with Great Plains Health Alliance (GPHA) to resolve the issues. York said that she is confident of the financial status of the hospital and that all information is coming in as it should; however, until the software problems are solved, she is not comfortable with presenting the financial statements to the board. Dickerson said that she has had a conversation with James Blackwell, Regional Vice President of Great Plains Health Alliance, and clearly indicated to him that these delays do not meet the standards of GWCH and pressed him for resolution. She received a promise from Blackwell that the financials will be available in December. York, who is transitioning out of her role as CFO, said that she holds the financials as a top priority and plans to actively assist the new Chief Financial Officer, Butch Forrest, as he moves into the position beginning Dec. 1.
Medical staff met on Nov. 18. Melissa Jones presented the risk management/ quality report. Information Technology (IT) Director William Flatt gave a discussion on AI. New trauma policies were presented for approval, and the staff heard several routine medical reports. In new business, the staff approved the reappointment of providers Dr. Mark Basham, MD, Family Medicine, and Dr. Joe Hutchison, MD, Family Medicine. The board approved both reappointments.
The consent agenda, including minutes from the Oct. 23 meeting, the October treasurer’s report, October disbursements, payroll/benefits in the amount of $926,900.08, and accounts payable in the amount of $653,664.03, was approved as presented.
Two executive sessions were held, one for risk management and quality, the other for contract negotiation for a potential new clinic provider. No action was taken as a result of either session.
No board meeting is scheduled for December; the next GWCH Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the hospital conference room.
