Box Butte General Hospital Board of Trustees met on March 31, 2025, at noon in the Alliance Room. The meeting covered several important topics, including the approval of the financial report and consent calendar, updates on the facility master plan, and several initiatives aimed at improving hospital operations and patient care.
QAPI Performance Improvement Projects
Quality Management Specialist Summer Gonzalez presented the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement project proposals. Through the optimization project with Meditech (the electronic health records system) and Tegria (the healthcare consulting firm) key issues have been chosen for project proposals. Some of these projects include improving nursing workflow, physician documentation, prior authorization, use of InterQual, security, and peer reviews. These projects have hospital-wide benefits as they are interdependent. Gonzalez presented the aim statements of each project with desired outcomes and deadlines. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Shelmadine and Chief Nursing Officer Jordan Colwell strongly supported the proposals as each will create more efficiency for the different department teams. Chief Operations Officer Gabe Behling described the proposals as “actionable points to better take care of patients and the community.” Gonzalez will return for board approval once the proposals have been finalized.
Staff Reports
Chief of Staff Dr. Tim Narjes reported a decrease in the seasonal sicknesses. Dr. Shelmadine reported on an ongoing campaign with Panhandle Public Health District to increase immunizations, either through Greater Nebraska Medical and Surgical Services family providers or the Immunization Clinic held every other Friday at the Michael F. Essay Specialty Clinic. There is also the possibility for school-aged children to update their immunizations during the free physicals clinic that will be held at Alliance Middle School and the Alliance High School. Dr. Shelmadine also reported on physician recruitment.
Master Facility Plan Update
The Master Facility Plan, which includes an addition to the hospital, is currently on hold as the hospital waits for the Directed Payment Program through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be approved. CMS has apologized for the delay of processes, but has no concrete timeline for approvals. An upgrade to the hospital’s MRI unit is currently underway. The project has started with construction taking place through next week. The upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-May. In IT updates, Behling reported that over 25 workgroups are collaborating with Tegria and Meditech to improve workflows and streamline systems. Although optimization is challenging during this ongoing process, the improvements have led to greater efficiency across departments.
New Business
The board approved the renewal of a credit line through Nebraska Bank. Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Dell reported that United Healthcare Dual Complete plans are being sold to the public over the phone. Patients who have these plans have found out the hospital is considered out-of-network. The hospital will be publishing a payor list in the newspaper, hospital website, and the hospital’s Facebook page to inform the public. The board then reviewed and approved the credentials for healthcare providers and staff.
Employee Recognition
Employee of the Month for March, Phlebotomist Kylie Adams, was recognized at the meeting. The board was also introduced to new full-time employees including Hospital Registration Clerk Josiah Joedeman, Radiology Tech Blake Rebillet, Maintenance Techs Micah Schneider and Denny Stark, Clinic Registration Clerk Marissa Lickliter, and Staff Nurse Shayleen Baumann. The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m. with no executive session. The next board meeting is set for April 28, 2025, at noon in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend.