Hospital credits systems for fewer infections

Community Hospital officials credit a waterless hand sanitizer, a vacuum cleaner with a mold-and-mildew filter and the McCook hospital's on-going efforts for the lack of hospital-acquired infections during the first quarter of 2003-04.

Following a hospital board meeting Wednesday morning, hospital president Gary Bieganski said dispensers are being installed for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer jell throughout the hospital. Simple hand-washing is so important in the prevention of the spread of germs and disease, Bieganski said.

Bieganski said Peggy Smalley, the hospital's risk management coordinator, told board members the new vacuum's mold/mildew filters are inspected after the vacuum is used in areas with mold/mildew potential.

Bieganski said staff members work diligently throughout the hospital to ensure the use of sterile techniques that can lesson the spread of infection.

"This effort is going very well," Bieganski said. "We have had minimal hospital-acquired infections."

Bieganski said expenses exceeded revenues by $84,000 in the first quarter of 2003-04. These results are not unusual for first-quarter figures, he said, as July is traditionally slow. The months of August and September did rebound, however, to result in financial gains which helped to offset the July loss.

Bieganski said admissions and patient days of care for the same three-month period were down 13 percent compared to figures a year ago. Finance and support vice president Jim Ulrich said, "August and September results were due in large part to the lower percentage of patients treated with Medicare and Medicaid insurance, which helped to offset our lower patient volumes during the first quarter."

Bieganski said the hospital's accounts receivable are also down. He explained, "Hospital employees and the medical staff are doing a good job in completing paperwork, billing and collecting for the healthcare services provided."

On the hospital's assets side, Bieganski said, nice improvements and gains have been made and equipment added during the first quarter.

New board members Patsy Houghton, president and general manager of Heartland Cattle Company, and Dr. Dirk Gray, OD, co-owner of McCook Eye Clinic, will be officially seated Wednesday, Dec. 17. Houghton, Gray and re-elected board member Jeff Crick, human resources manager for Parker, will each serve a three-year term.

A new chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer will be elected Dec. 17. Bieganski said vice chairman Wayne Watkins and secretary Vicky Weigel are retiring from the board.

Re-appointed to three-year terms on the board of the Hospital Health Foundation are Deb Wilcox of Wilcox and Hager LLC and Dr. Rob Stamm, OD, co-owner of McCook Eye Clinic.

Bieganski said board members also discussed the hospital's strategy to retain and recruit vital hospital personnel. Department directors have determined, he said, that competitive wages and benefits and an excellent, well-equipped facility are two factors responsible for the retention and recruitment of a quality workforce. Other issues in Community Hospital's favor, he said, are communication within the hospital and flexible work hours.

Areas of possible improvement indicated by department directors included education and teamwork and participation by hospital employees and directors at meetings.

Bieganski said directors also discussed a prescription drug bill with provisions that can help rural hospitals, such as Community Hospital, which receive minimal Medicare reimbursements. "It is an important time to work with our congressmen to pass this legislation," Bieganski said.