New hospital policy fights identity theft

Community Hospital is keeping on top of the rising occurrence of identity theft by implementing a new security program.

The hospital's board of directors approved a resolution Wednesday morning at a regular meeting to adopt a policy to combat identity theft.

CEO Jim Ulrich said staff is undergoing training on procedures to implement the new process.

The board also learned that the hospital's operating margin through the first half of the fiscal year is exceeding what was budgeted by 7.6 percent. This was achieved by holding expenses in check, Ulrich said, with the hospital remaining strong and continuing to grow while still providing quality patient care.

A review of activities at the meeting included the quarterly and annual report on risk management, which showed medication errors lower than the national average at less than 1 percent.

There were 22 medication errors out of 11,166, Ulrich said, with no patients harmed; and the errors consisted of medication being administered later than scheduled, he said.

Under the quarterly report for infection control, infections acquired within medical grounds also came in under the national average, Ulrich said, with one infection reported from October to December.

The board also briefly discussed improvements such as an elevator that will be installed in a building on the hospital campus that houses some hospital staff and the information systems departments.

The elevator will allow employees to go downstairs for training, Ulrich explained, as well as make the delivery of computer equipment easier as well as comply with ADA standards.

Other improvements are slated at the hospital in the near future, Ulrich said, with more information about these coming soon.

Recruiting efforts are continuing, he added, with two new family practice doctors coming to the medical clinic this summer.

In addition to the full-time medical staff, there are about 35 visiting specialists who come to the hospital campus per month, Ulrich said, plus staff who visit the rural clinics in Trenton and Curtis.

Additional days were scheduled for the two visiting orthopedic surgeons, he said, who continue to draw patients to the clinic.

The wide variety of medical services at Community Hospital of McCook and the clinic continue to provide patients with access to quality care, Ulrich said.