The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at noon Monday, June 24th, in the Alliance Room of BBGH. This month’s agenda included discussion focused on data reporting for social determinants of health, the new process for imaging services, Legislative Bill 1087, and the 2024/2025 budget.
Quality Management Specialist Summer Gonzalez shared how the Quality team is data reporting for social determinants of health. This data is shared with the Nebraska Hospital Association and used by BBGH to improve existing or provide new resources to the community. Data is anonymized.
Chief Executive Officer Lori Mazanec, MHA, ACHE, reported that the partnership with Regional West Medical Center’s imaging services and providers is continuing, albeit with some challenges. Patients could experience a slight delay in the reading of images, but a long-term solution is in the works.
Mazanec also reported on Nebraska Legislative Bill 1087, the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Act. Through funding by the Department of Health and Human Services, hospitals across the state will receive additional funds to support Medicaid programming based on their Medicaid usage.
A press release from the Governor’s office states, “It is estimated that this legislation will provide for nearly $1 billion annually in additional net federal funding to hospitals[…] LB1087 is anticipated to benefit every single hospital system in Nebraska. Additionally, the bill includes $50 million per year for scholarships to support the development of Nebraska’s nursing workforce.”
Finally, the Board approved the 2024/2025 budget with a cost of living raise for employees and the most full-time position requests the hospital has ever proposed.
Employees recognized during the meeting included June Employee of the Month Medical Assistant Elizabeth “Beth” Garcia and new employees; Environmental Services Tech Mariah Brady, Staff Nurse Caitlen Evans, Registration Clerk Chelsea Mays, Surgical Tech Kolbee Sanchez, Dietary Aide Alex Hernandez, Cooks Andres Gutierrez and Elizabeth Stackhouse, Medical Lab Tech Jenna Schwartz, Maintenance Techs Carlson Cobb and Martin Heredia, Respiratory Therapist Toni Girard, Pharmacist Erin Merrihew, and Dialysis Tech Heidi Tuma.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m. with no executive session. The next BBGH Board meeting will be at noon on Monday, July 29th, in the Alliance Room. The public is invited to attend.