The Greenwood County Hospital (GWCH) Board of Trustees held their first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 22. CEO Sandra Dickerson introduced new Chief Financial Officer Butch Forrest and new board member J.J. Smith, who was appointed by the Greenwood County Commission to fill the vacancy left by Jan Stephens.
The board reviewed and approved its strategic plan for 2026. The two-year plan, which began in 2025, is a comprehensive roadmap outlining GWCH’s mission, vision, and goals. Dickerson highlighted strategic directives aimed at accomplishing goals, including ensuring financial stability, expansion of care, and improving patient satisfaction and service quality. Dickerson noted that the new mammography machine is expected to arrive mid-February and may begin offering services in March. Currently, patients experience months-long waits for services.
Several goals that were completed in 2025 were removed from the plan for 2026. These included replacement of the air conditioning unit in the X-ray room and implementation of pain management services, which began in March of 2025. The collection of social determinants of health (SDOC) was removed from GWCH’s plan because the current federal administration has removed this as a requirement for hospitals. Dickerson explained that since the data is no longer required to be tracked, it is not cost-effective for GWCH to continue to do so. However, GWCH will continue to work toward goals that positively affect healthy outcomes for the community.
Sonjia Lemons, RN, presented her Director of Nursing report to the board. Lemons reported that numbers are consistent when compared to year-to-date last year and that there had been no patient safety events for the last month.
Lemons said that GWCH is working on obtaining accreditation through a company called CIHQ. The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ), which is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved accreditation provider for hospitals. Through CIHQ, GWCH will receive preparation assistance and, because CIHQ provides their own survey which matches state and CMS metrics, GWCH will not be delayed in receiving their accreditation.
In her CEO’s report, Dickerson shared that she had recently met various legislators at the state level and shared information on how various issues that they are taking up either in committees or on the floor will impact GWCH. Some of those topics included 340B, guardianship issues, the rural health transformation program, and insurance prior authorizations. Dickerson said the issue at the state level is to determine whether or not a hospital can have more than one contracting pharmacy. (Senate Bill 284). This is important to Greenwood County, as it can ensure that patients at GWCH’s Howard Clinic can access the 340B discounted pharmaceuticals at the nearby Batson’s pharmacy rather than having to come to Eureka. Dickerson said she spoke with legislators about a bill that, if passed, would allow a hospital (a patient’s provider of care) the ability to act as a medical surrogate in order to authorize the patient’s transfer to an appropriate nursing care facility when a guardian is not present or able to make the decision. Dickerson said this is crucial to prevent cognitive decline in patients who do not need hospital care but rather, nursing care.
Dickerson said GWCH is seeking to apply for funding from various sources over the next few weeks. One is through the HealthWorks board with the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA).
“We are looking specifically at helping individuals with obtaining medical assistance certification to become a certified nursing aid or medical coder in our HIM department,” stated Dickerson. GWCH will be allowed to choose up to 20 enrollees to participate in the program.
According to Dickerson, GWCH is also applying for funding through the State of Kansas. The State has funding available to assist with the upskilling of staff. This funding can be used to pay for equipment or books needed for any of the training that GWCH currently offers to staff who provide certification. Specifically, said Dickerson, GWCH plans to use the funding to pay for the purchase of books for life support, trauma, and patient safety certifications, including Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Trauma Nursing Core Course )TNCC), Mental Health First Aid, and Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPSI). Dickerson intends to ask for $50,000 and, if awarded, will be required to purchase all the training materials by May 22, 2026.
Dickerson spoke of another grant she will be applying for, this one from the Patterson Family Foundation (PFF). GWCH is looking to obtain funding to help open a daycare center for hospital staff. said Dickerson.
Dickerson said the grant could be worth $100,000 but begins with a letter of intent. If the letter is accepted, the Patterson Foundation will invite GWCH to apply.
Lastly, Dickerson encouraged board members to attend the critical issues summit March 5-6 in Wichita. Attendees will be discussing various topics of concern that hospitals are facing. Dickerson said one of the framers of the rural health transformation program will be there to update trustees on that program and clarify its potential.
CFO Forrest presented a financial report for the months of June through September 2025. Forrest explained that data is continuing to be reviewed for months following September but is slow in coming due to the continued issues caused by the switch to the Cerner electronic medical records system. Forrest said that this length of delay when a new software system is implemented is very normal. The board was assured that every effort is being made to correct the issues as soon as possible and progress is being made. The financial report was approved as presented.
Regional Vice President and Corporate Compliance Officer Leslie Lacey joined the meeting via Zoom to present corporate compliance education, an annual requirement for Great Plains Health Alliance (GPHA) hospitals like GWCH. Each board member, having received the education, also signed a confidentiality statement and conflict of interest statement as required.
Dr. Mike McClintick presented an educational video to the medical staff at their meeting on Jan. 19. Routine reports were heard, and staff gave favorable reports on the new radiology reads they have received. The staff approved the reappointment of Justin Richey, M.D., Pathology Consultation. The reappointment was also approved by the board during Thursday’s board meeting.
The consent agenda, including the minutes of the Nov. 24 regular meeting, the treasurer’s report for November and December 2025, November payroll/ benefits in the amount of $692,228.44, November accounts payable in the amount of $820,404.45, December payroll/benefits in the amount of $679,943.20, and December accounts payable in the amount of $795,282.62, was accepted as presented.
The next Greenwood County board of trustees meeting is set for Feb. 26.
