The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees met at noon Monday, December 23rd, in the Alliance Room of 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, including updates on the Employee Injury Report and Workplace Violence reports. A major point of focus was the ongoing collaboration with law enforcement to enhance protection for healthcare workers. Quarterly meetings continue and allow opportunity to discuss how to better safeguard staff and respond to workplace violence incidents.
The importance of thorough reporting was emphasized, as it helps track and analyze incidents of violence, enabling the hospital to implement effective strategies. Board member John Annen raised the question of whether social media communication would be included in discussions surrounding workplace violence. A specialized training program has been introduced to better equip staff on how to handle such situations. In addition, assistance from federal agencies such as the FBI, Homeland Security, and the Nebraska State Patrol will be sought. They will provide a proposal to Senior Leadership on January 7th, focused on enhancing workplace security.
Gonzalez also reported on the ongoing efforts to monitor risk management and performance improvement across the hospital throughout the year.
Medical Staff Report
In addition to safety concerns, the board also discussed ongoing efforts in medical staffing. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Shelmadine reported that Dr. Vanessa Pinto will be rejoining the GNMSS Clinic starting in January, where she will see patients and also be working with Obstetrics and Lifestyle Medicine. Additionally, recruitment for new providers is ongoing, with several candidates currently being interviewed.
Financial Report
Chief Finance Officer Michael O’Dell provided the financial report. He addressed the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack, noting that patients are receiving HIPAA notifications. The hospital was impacted by the breach, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Change Healthcare, United Healthcare, and Optum for violations related to consumer protection and data security loss.
Governance and Facility Updates
Chief Executive Officer Lori Mazanec shared updates on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval for the Direct Payment Program. The Nebraska Hospital Association’s application was submitted on behalf of all Nebraska hospitals for review and is awaiting approval.
Chief Operations Officer Gabe Behling also provided an update on the Master Facility Plan, highlighting a planning meeting to expand the hospital with the new Dialysis and Infusion Center. Floor plans and maps were discussed, with potential expansion to the north being considered. New options for the addition will allow for BBGH to deliver more services and better patient care to the community.
Employee Recognition
Employees recognized during the meeting included Employee of the Month: Environmental Services Tech, Nyla Wilhelm, and Occupational Therapist, TaLisa Brown who recently earned her Certified Hand Therapist Certification. New employees include Clinton Robinson in Marketing, Meagan Shrewsbury in the Emergency Department, Kyrie Bargmann in Dialysis, Sarah Parks in the Patient Care Unit, Ronald Shaw in Patient Finance Services, and Isaiah Kelsey in Dietary.
The meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m. with the board entering an executive session. The next BBGH board meeting is Monday, January 27th, 2025 at noon in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend.
Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.