NTMC election cancelled

By PAMELA ROBINSON

The Governing Board of the Gainesville Hospital District unanimously approved the order of cancellation for the May 9 election during the board meeting April 28.

The order of cancellation states that all candidates have been certified as unopposed and are hereby elected as follows: Jim Lovett, Director; Kenneth Arterbury, Director and Stephen Harlow, Director. The board approved the addition of Jerry Metzler to the document after he was appointed to the NTMC board by a unanimous vote.

NTMC Chief Financial Officer Kelly Hayes recommended a purchase of investments to the board. The board reviewed the information from the bids received from four banks and then voted unanimously to purchase investments from Muenster State Bank (CD bid for 12 months, 2 percent, (APY)).

Board members unanimously approved and authorized NTMC Cheif Executive Officer Steve Porter to move forward to recruit an Orthopedic Surgeon for the hospital.

Board members unanimously approved the “contingency contract” for the search of an Invasive Cardiologist. Porter said that the hospital will not pay anything until the doctor is physically here at the hospital. The board discussed employee contracts and headhunter contracts before they made their decision.

Board members reviewed the letter and request from Allen Salem, MD, who is relocating to another state. Salem requested that time remaining on his main suite lease be forgiven. The board decided to postpone the decision to the next board meeting so that member Darrell Comer can review Salem’s contract.

The board voted 7-0-2 to revise the NTMC Board of Director’s Bylaws to change the meeting date of the board to the third Monday of each month. The board has been meeting the fourth Tuesday of each month. Earl Russell III and Darrell Comer opposed the revision of the bylaws.

Community Relations Director Gayla Blanton updated the board on the National Volunteer Week activities that took place for hospital volunteers.

Blanton reported on upcoming events including the annual Hospice Foundation of America National Bereavement Teleconference, Hospital Week May 10-16 and the NTMC Employee Recognition Banquet May 12.

NTMC Foundation Director Dennis Noblett reported the employee campaign has been wrapped up. Noblett said he will give an update at the next board meeting regarding the amount raised as a result of the campaign.

Noblett reported that the memorial and honorary brick project is on-going as an avenue to bring in funds for the hospital .

Noblett said that he is also searching for alternative options for revenue and has been reviewing many grants.

NTMC Chief of Staff Dr. Robert McLeroy reported the Medical Staff is reviewing the bylaws and the new set of rules and regulations with Patterson Consulting.

McLeroy said that staff received a training presentation for working with computerized death certificates.

During NTMC CEO Steve Porter Administrator’s Report, the board received an update on the Monthly Human Resources Report. The rolling annualized turnover rate for the hospital was 11.6 percent for March 2009, down from 15.4 percent in March 2008.

Porter said the hospital is continuing to prepare for the visit for the Joint Commission Accreditation of Health Care Organizations that is scheduled for the month of July.

Porter included a copy of the presentation “The Almost Perfect Board” in the board packet for the members to review. Porter received the presentation when he recently attended the TORCH Annual Conference.

Porter included a copy of the articles, from Modern Healthcare’s Daily Dose, “Hospitals See First Employment Dip in Years” and from AHA News Magazine, “Report: Hospital Margins Sink With Economy,” for board members to review.

Board members took the following action after reconvening from the executive session

The board approved medical staff privileges as follows: one-year provisional staff privileges for Anunaya Aashish, M.D. - Hospitalist and Allied Health privileges for Patricia Mahon, Nurse Practitioner - Inspirations Program.

The NTMC Financial Statement Summary for the month ended March 2009 shows a gross patient revenue of approximately $7,524,000. The net operating margin was six percent. Days of cash on hand is at 180 days.

The consent items, including the minutes of the regular meeting March 24, 2009, the Financial Statement for March 2009, and the Quarterly Investment Report for the second quarter were unanimously approved.

All board members were present at the meeting.