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Brookings Health System
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
October 28, 2024
The Brookings Health System Board of Trustees held a meeting on October 28, 2024, at the Brookings
Hospital in the Board Room with the following members present: Sheila Anderson, Lynn Darnall, David
Meyer, Dick Peterson, Andrew Ellsworth, Tracy Greene, Don Greiner, Mary Anne Krogh and Jim
Morgan; Ex-officio: Andrew Rasmussen, Brianna Doran and Ryan Krogman
Management Present: Jason Merkley, CEO; Tammy Hillestad, CNO; Melissa Wagner, CFO and Sheri
Wiig, recorder
President Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:26 p.m.
AGENDA
A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Darnall to approve the agenda. All present voted in favor;
motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Greiner, seconded by Krogh to approve the following consent agenda items:
September 30, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting minutes, October 16, 2024 Medical Executive Committee
meeting minutes, September 2024 financials, adjustments, and payables; total payables for September
were $3,717,542.16. All present voted in favor; motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Articles of interest included: “Baxter IV Fluid Shortage”, Baxter.com; “50 things to know about Epic”,
Becker's Hospital Review; and “Medicare Advantage plans 'intentionally using prior authorization to
boost profits': Senate report”, Becker's Hospital Review.
Merkley noted, Baxter supplies nearly 60% of all IV fluids in the US and the shortage, due to hurricane
Helene, caused vulnerability across the country. Brookings Health System was quick to deploy
conservation efforts and allocations are slowly beginning to improve.
REPORTS
Executive Reports
CEO Report
Merkley noted open enrollment for benefit eligible staff is underway and Brookings Health implemented
positive changes to the health insurance plan to make it more competitive: 8% decrease in health
insurance premiums and an HSA match.
CFO Report
Wagner shared a brief update on the FY25 Operating Budget process which will be finalized in December
and presented to the Finance Committee and Board. Wagner also provided information regarding the
South Dakota Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) which is a state administered grant that
supports small rural hospitals to implement quality and improvement efforts. Brookings Health has
received funds since 2013.
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CNO Report
Hillestad expanded on efforts established by the IV Solution Taskforce on conservation of IV fluids in the
Emergency Department and OR. Efforts are proving to be effective, and Brookings Health is doing okay
on the amount in inventory.
Anderson exited at 5:45 p.m. Past President, Peterson, led remainder of meeting.
Board Committee Reports
Administrative Committee Meeting
Committee member Meyer provided a report; the Administrative Committee met on October 22nd. Topics
of discussion included the Yorkshire Medical Building, Meditech Expanse/Avera/Workday/Epic, BHS
Compensation Plan – Market Data, FY25 Capital Budget, CEO/Board Annual Evaluations, CEO
Compensation, 2025 Committee Structure, 2025 Board Calendar and Succession Planning.
Finance Committee
Committee Chair Greiner provided a report; the Finance Committee met on October 22nd. The committee
reviewed and approved payables, adjustments, and financials for September. Total salaries and wages for
September were $2,967,735. Other topics of discussion included a report on Revenue versus Expense and
the FY25 Capital Budget. Members reviewed the proposed 2025 Capital Budget; total capital requests are
set at $1.9M and contingency items identified for equipment that may need to be replaced totals $297k.
A motion was brought forward from the Finance Committee recommending approval of the FY25
Capital Budget as presented. The motion was seconded by Morgan. All present voted in favor; motion
carried.
Quality Committee
Committee Chair Krogh provided a report; the Quality Committee met on October 22nd. Lynne
Kaufmann, Director of Home Health, provided a recap on the SD Department of Health survey that took
place in August, noting the survey went well and resulted in no deficiencies or technical assist
recommendations. Kaufmann also provided an explanation on the Home Health Value Based Purchasing
project. Other topics of discussion included Medicare Promoting Interoperability, Social Drivers of
Health Quality Measures, and the recent recognition of Brookings Hospital by Newsweek as one of
America’s Best-in-State Hospitals 2025 as well as the Patient Experience Award.
NEW BUSINESS
Medical Staff Credentialing
A motion was made by Ellsworth, seconded by Meyer to approve all credentialing as recommended by
the Medical Executive Committee. All present voted in favor; motion carried.
2025 Board Calendar
Proposed board and committee meeting dates for 2025 were reviewed. As in the past, the proposed
calendar reflects meetings will not be held in the months of May, July, and November. Further discussion
will take place in December on potential changes to the 2025 calendar.
CEO/Board Evaluations
Peterson and Darnall informed members information will be emailed soon regarding the annual Board and
CEO evaluations. Timely return of forms will be necessary to compile information for the December 10th
Administrative Committee meeting and report out at the December 16th Board meeting.
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2025 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference
Merkley reminded members the American Hospital Association (AHA) Rural Health Care Leadership
Conference will be held February 23-26, 2025, in San Antonio. Members were encouraged to reach out to
Wiig soon if planning to attend.
Day of Giving
Darnall promoted the South Dakota Day of Giving which falls on Tuesday, December 3rd and encouraged
members to consider directing donations to Brooking Health System Foundation to help in the purchase
of a new ambulance. There will also be a dollar for dollar match up to $10,000.
Upon motion by Darnall, second by Meyer, the meeting adjourned at 6:09 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________________
David Meyer