Hospital board to match employees' retirement funds

After a week of reeling in the effects of the Needs Assessment Surveys, the Mitchell County Hospital District Board of Directors met in regular session to get back to the everyday task running the hospital.

One of the short comings mentioned in the surveys was the possibility of hiring an additional physician for the hospital. The board agreed it was time to look more seriously at locating one, someone young enough they might stick around for a long time, be the future of the hospital.

An anesthesia machine has been purchased for the hospital at the cost of $30,000. The purchase was pre-approved under a CAP budget several months prior.

During the quarterly nursing report, the board was told the nursing staff was relatively strong. Any fears of falling short and being forced to use agencies or travelling nurses have been avoided to this point. CNO Donna Goebel said the nursing staff had gone through a small turnover within its ranks, due to relocation of families more than anything, but the core group was still strong.

The board approved a measure to match three percent of employees’ salaries in a retirement fund. The total cost of the plan for the 2011 calendar year was $98,000.

CEO Robbie Dewberry was authorized by the board to put in the paperwork for a Capital Loan Improvement Fund (CLIF) grant to purchase a new ambulance. Dewberry said the grant was for $50, 000 and the ambulance would cost over $100,000, but it was a great start.
He also reminded the board they had used this same grant last year to purchase a radiology machine. According to Dewberry, the ambulance he wishes to replace spent over six months in the shop this last year for repairs.
Finally, the board approved an Ultrasound Training Stipend for one of its employees in the sum of $1,000 to pay for the training.
The hospital had already received $500 toward the training so the remaining cost to the hospital would only be an additional $500.