HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHSMinutes_2003_12_23
BROOKINGS HOSPITAL AND BROOKVIEW MANOR
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
December 23, 2003
The Board of Trustees of the Brookings Hospital and Brookview Manor met on December
23, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. in Hospital Conference Rooms A-B.
Present were: Michelle Robbins; Dianna Evers; Rob Jones; Eric Rasmussen; John
Ramsay; Ardelle Lundeen; Dave Kasperson; Roberta Olson; Julie Whaley, ex-officio;
Dave Johnson, Administrator; and Pam Emmett, Executive Secretary. A government
student was also present.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Rob Jones.
Consent Agenda: The following items from the consent agenda were approved: Minutes;
minutes from December 8, 2003; Awarding of Bid for Telemetry Monitoring
Equipment: award bid for telemetry monitoring system to Datascope Corporation
for $135,078.07; Corrected Daily Routine Service Charges; Corrected Blood Bank
Charge Schedule; Declaration of Surplus Property; Statistical Report;
Statistical Graphs. M/S/P.
Financial Report: Dave Johnson reviewed the financial report with Board members.
Dianna Evers stated she still cannot replicate the numbers and asked how these
numbers were derived. She stated she does not understand the process and has a
hard time approving the financial report when the numbers do not add up. Eric
Rasmussen explained that they are presented with a modified balance sheet as the
full report is very long and cumbersome. He stated that the numbers that were
presented represent the items the Board felt were important for them to see.
Dianna Evers stated she is not comfortable with the name of the balance
sheet/financial report and she does not want to approve a balance sheet that
does not include all the numbers to the totals shown. Board members stated they
have been, and still are, comfortable with approving the balance sheet as
presented. It was noted that the financial reports are audited at the end of
each year and it is not the Board’s job to micro-manage and is frustrated we are
spending so much time on this issue each month. Dianna Evers felt it should be
defined as to what the report includes. She feels the report only shows the
bottom line and is not a full financial report. It was felt the report could be
call a modified balance sheet and it is for Board information only. Dianna Evers
felt there should be a defined process that we use for approving our financial
report as we are under a lot of scrutiny from the city and public. It was noted
that the city does not get a full financial report each month, but only sees the
bottom line. After much discussion it was agreed that we could change the name
to “partial” balance sheet and “partial” financial statement. Board members
questioned why the Board votes to approve the financial report and felt they
should just accept the report as presented. Board members approved the
financial report for Brookings Hospital, Brookview Manor, and Home
Health/Hospice Agency for November 30, 2003. M/S/P.
Charge-Off/Write Off Accounts: The charge-off/write off accounts were reviewed and
discussed by Board members. Board members wanted to note that the hospital
wrote off over $50,000 in charity care this year. It was also noted that the
hospital has increased its assets of the building and equipment to provide for
the healthcare of this community without any subsidies from the city. Also
noted was that our bad debt write offs are unsubsidized and unpaid and amount
annually to approximately $428,000. We must still provide care to everyone even
if they cannot pay and this does not include contractual adjustments that are
written off for Medicare, Medicaid, and others and exceeds $7 million annually.
Accounts Payable: It was questioned why we are paying taxes to the Brookings County
Treasurer. It was noted that this is for property tax on land purchased from
Dr. and Mrs. Tesch and we will again be paying real estate taxes again next year
on the land purchased from Midwest R&F. Board members approved the accounts
payable. M/S/P.
Awarding of Bid for Harmonic Scalpel: Michelle Robbins stated that in reading the
Medical staff minutes it was noted that Dr. Rietz did not use the harmonic
scalpel anymore and questioned why we were pursuing purchase of this piece of
equipment. Dave Johnson stated that Dr. Park was interested in using this piece
of equipment. We had dropped the harmonic scalpel in planning the 2004 budget
and Dr Park had asked to have it put back on. Board members approved the award
of bid to Ethicon Endo-surgery for $19,984. M/S/P.
Committee Reports:
Joint Conference (Medical Affairs): Ardelle Lundeen reported they did not meet.
Strategic Planning: Michelle Robbins reported they did not meet but wants to
find a date to meet later.
Finance/Personnel: Roberta Olson stated they had met briefly before the meeting
tonight and would like to discuss their issues in Executive Session.
Unfinished Business: Rob Jones reported on his meeting with the City Council
regarding the Senior Center. Rob stated that the issue of parking was brought
up to the City Council and it was felt that this would not be an issue and they
did not need to address this. He stated that the lot in front of the old Elks
building is partially designated to the city and if parking becomes a problem
with businesses parking in this lot for extended periods of time city police
would ticket people for parking in the city lot. Ardelle Lundeen stated she had
attended the City Council meeting and it was an enlightening experience. She
stated that Rob Jones had presented our point very well. Rob stated that one of
the Council members stated that the hospital doesn’t give anything to the city -
and it is noted that we do contribute a lot to the city by way of charge
off/write offs, charity care, and the provision of healthcare to the community.
Julie Whaley will bring up our charge off write offs to City Council at their
next meeting. Rob Jones stated that the Senior Center is now a dead issue.
New Business: Election of Officers: Board members voted to keep the same slate of
December 23, 2003
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officers for the upcoming year. President: Rob Jones, Vice President - Ardelle
Lundeen and Secretary: Michelle Robbins. M/S/P.
Reading and Information: Board members received for information and reading: Minutes
from Executive Committee, Medical Staff and Quality Council meetings;
Correspondence from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Sole Community
Hospital Status; Thank You notes from Dale McCord Family, Lefty Johnson Family,
and Albert Bortnem Family; and City Appointments to Brookings Hospital and
Brookview Manor Board of Trustees made by City Council.
Comments: None.
A motion was made to go into executive session at 8:03 p.m. for personnel reasons.
M/S/P. The board came out of executive session at 8:30 p.m. Roberta Olson made a
motion to increase Dave's annual salary for 2004 to $166,200 with a request for a
summary of expected goals/challenges for 2004, similar to what was presented at for
2003. M/S/P.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
____________________________
Michelle Robbins, Secretary