The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees met at noon Monday, January 27th in the Alliance Room at BBGH. During the meeting, board members approved credentialing requests, the consent calendar, and the financial report as presented. The meeting included the following key updates and discussions:
Quality and Safety Report
Quality Management Specialist Summer Gonzalez presented the Quality and Safety report, proposing a new council to include input and participation from board members. Currently, performance improvement (PI) projects are presented to and approved by the board. This proposed council would foster closer collaboration between the board and BBGH employees. The Joint Commission regulates PI projects to ensure healthcare facilities are continuing to improve their processes, policies, and procedures.
Governance and Facility Updates
Chief Executive Officer Lori Mazanec and individuals from Beckenhauer Construction Inc. and BWBR (commercial architecture) presented a comparison of floor plans for the construction of the new Dialysis addition. Two floor plans were discussed, with one being a stand-alone building, and one being an add-on to the area by the Emergency Department. The add-on floor plan provides benefits such as a separate entrance for Dialysis, and quick access to the ER, Infusion, and Wound Care departments. The addition will also allow in-patients to receive Dialysis care, and the possibility to add space for a new operating room (OR); however, the budget for this floor plan would increase to just over $30M, where the free-standing building was planned for just over $20M. Funding for the project is dependent funding from the USDA, and a capital campaign through the Box Butte Health Foundation following a decision on the State’s Directed Payment Program and financial feasibility study of the new price estimate. Mazanec stated, “…either way, something will need to be figured out for Dialysis.” Further discussion on floor plans will occur, and additional input will be considered.
The board went on to approve $2,000 for scholarship recipients. Scholarship applications are now open at www.bbgh.org/scholarship/ until March 1, 2025.
Medical Staff Report
Chief of Staff Timothy Narjes reported staff is not seeing much influenza or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) at this time, but norovirus (commonly known as the stomach flu) continues to circulate and can persist longer than expected.
Chief Medical Officer Brian Shelmadine added he’s recruiting a Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine provider to help cover the emergency department.
Information Technology Report
Chief Operations Officer Gabriel Behling shared that through work with a third party, there were “hundreds of findings” with the electronic health records system that will be resolved in the coming months. These resolutions will improve patient experience when it comes to billing in particular. BBGH is aware there has been confusion and disruptions when it comes to patient billing, and would like to apologize to patients for any inconveniences. Please remain patient with BBGH staff, and continue to make sure information is accurate on received bills. Thank you for understanding, and know BBGH is working diligently to correct and improve this elaborate process as quickly as possible.
Employee Recognition
Employees recognized during the meeting included Employee of the Month, Occupational Therapist Christina Line. New full-time employees in January include Environmental Services Tech Raymond Watts, CRNA Brittani Neely, Ophthalmologist Edward Stevenson, Primary Care Provider Vanessa Pinto, Lab Tech Erik Folchert, and Staff Nurse Jessica Stanton.
The meeting adjourned at 1:13 p.m. with the board entering executive session. The next BBGH board meeting is Monday, February 24th in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend.