The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees (Board) meeting was called to order at noon Monday, June 26, 2023 in the Alliance Room at BBGH. The month’s agenda included a new quality and safety initiative, a brief financial update, and the approval of the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget. The consent calendar, May financial report, and credentialing requests were all approved as presented.
Chief Quality Officer Mary Mockerman shared with the Board that she will no longer be providing monthly statistics on the COVID-19 virus. Mockerman introduced a new initiative the Quality and Safety team have been working on to improve the quality of care at BBGH. The initiative is to understand what the best ratio of staff to patient census is, especially for the hospitalist model. During upticks in census, staff from multiple care areas can be stretched thin. Mockerman is tracking data that will provide a better understanding of when to anticipate upticks in census and the best strategy for staffing during those times. The Board commended the initiative. Additionally, the Board acknowledged an update to The Joint Commission leadership standards.
Chief of Staff Dr. Timothy Narjes shared a brief update about a community health matter. He stated that the number of pink eye cases has slowed down after an outbreak of cases in May. The cases were primarily seen in daycares and schools. Narjes stated that seasonal allergy and injury cases are on the rise.
Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Dell shared with the Board that the new financial system that is operating with MEDITECH is working smoothly. Beginning Wednesday, July 19, patients who have been provided care on May 1 and after will start to receive statements of care. These statements do not include billing of services for care provided prior to May 1. Patients will receive two financial statements until the balance accrued prior to May 1 is paid in full.
Clinical Informatics Nurse Deana Andrew provided a demonstration to the Board of the new patient portal. BBGH began using a new electronic health record (EHR) system on May 1, 2023. With the new EHR system came a new patient portal. Andrew demonstrated how to access the patient portal and the new features that patients have access to. A few features she highlighted were how to pre-register for appointments, how to access visit history, and how to securely message a provider. Every Friday, beginning Friday, June 30, patients will have the opportunity to register for their patient portal. Registration for the patient portal can be done at the Greater Nebraska Medical and Surgical Services clinic in Alliance every Friday from 9:00 am – 11:00 am and 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Patients must be 19 years of age and older and present to enroll.
During new business, Chief Executive Officer Lori Mazanec proposed the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget. The Board unanimously approved the 2023-2024 Budget as presented.
New BBGH employees include: Trena Ackerman, Patient Registration Clerk, Tirah Cox, LPN, Staff Nurse, Riley Lawrence, Temp Nurse Tech, Rebecca Wellnitz, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist, Alivia Carlson, Childcare Lead Teacher, Shannon Alwin, Childcare Center Director, Payton Weber, RN, Staff Nurse, Kaitlyn Harrison, Temp Nurse Tech, Samantha Gonzalez Garza, Phlebotomist, and Tiffany Parks, Patient Registration Clerk. Also recognized was June Employee of the Month, Andy Leider, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist, and Provider of the Quarter, Timothy Richey, CRNA.
The next BBGH regular board meeting is Monday, July 31 at noon in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend.
Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
