Selection of New
Hospital Chief Delayed
By W. Lee Brame
Published:
Claiborne
Progress
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:29 AM CST
Correspondent
With only three weeks between board meetings, St. Mary's was unable to
complete a thorough screening of candidates for the Claiborne County
Hospital administrator's position. Hospital board members were informed that
individuals with suitable qualifications are scheduled for interview during
the last week of February and the first week of March. After discussion, the
board decided that, after considering all other business, to recess until
March 11. On March 11, the board will hold a workshop to consider St. Mary's
recommendation(s) for a new hospital administrator. Jack Bryan will continue
as interim administrator until a new selection is made.
In other business, the board spent considerable time reviewing the financial
report for the month of January. Winter is frequently the hospital's busiest
time of the year but in-patient volumes were down significantly in January.
Hospital planners expected to have a daily patient count with 28 beds filled
each day; a delay in the onset of flu season left the hospital with only 22
beds filled (average) each day.
Despite an increase in emergency room visits and nursing home patients, the
hospital lost money in January. Analysis of the financial report indicated
that several measures to decrease billing errors were beginning to show
results but that other cost saving actions are necessary to maintain the
hospital's financial stability. Bryan reported that he has already had
several discussions with hospital department heads about possible corrective
measures. One of the actions approved by the board was a request to replace
a surgical table in one of the operating rooms.
The board also heard a status report on the progress of the new medical
office building. The building is nearing completion (only about a week
behind schedule) with the last major task being to pave the parking lot.
Asphalt paving requires warmer weather than we've experienced recently. The
contractor expects that conditions will permit paving sometime during the
next month.
During last month's meeting, the board had several questions about a
possible interest free loan (used to help finance the medical office
building) from the Powell Valley Electric Corporation. Clarification of
issues was provided by Roger Ball (PVEC Board Chairman) and the hospital
board authorized Bryan to sign the necessary paperwork concerning the loan
