Alliance, NE- The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at noon Monday, August 26th, in the Alliance Room of BBGH. This month’s agenda included discussion on details for the upcoming construction to the BBGH building and free-standing Dialysis Unit, and the new providers and service lines in the coming months.
The BBGH board members started off the meeting with a tour of the spaces planned for renovations within the BBGH building and the free-standing Dialysis Unit. The construction process is dependent on funds from a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan in conjunction with a capital campaign coordinated by the Box Butte Health Foundation (BBHF).
Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Dell detailed the phases planned for construction, with the highest priority being the new Dialysis building. He went on to explain that while there have been financial hurdles recently with the cyberattack and switch to the new electronic health system, BBGH expects to receive funds from LB-1087 and Blue Cross Blue Shield. With reassurance from O’Dell about BBGH’s financial standing, the board approved a motion to move forward with the conceptual design phase for the new Dialysis Unit and renovations. This construction will provide the opportunity for double the number of current patients to receive care with more space and updated equipment.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Shelmadine shared that there are a number of new service lines and providers starting in September. Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Nicholas Basalay will be providing care at the Michael F. Essay Specialty Clinic, Healogics is a new telehealth service for wound care, Dr. Vanessa Pinto is currently working family practice and lifestyle medicine on a part-time basis and is fluent in Spanish, Dr. Christina Holbrooks will be supporting Obstetrics with caesarian sections (C-sections), and hospitalist coverage will be adding at least one physician part-time from this region. Dr. Shelmadine added that BBGH is still searching for up to four full-time physicians for Family Medicine/OB care, and the Emergency Room. Other new providers include Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Kristine Benda, CRNA Andrew Loptien, and a new Ophthalmologist starting in November.
Employees recognized during the meeting included Employee of the Month Occupational Therapist TaLisa Brown and new employees and department transfers Karen Best, Devan Collins, Dawson Reed, Chad Momberger, Tiffany Conboy, Joe Britian, Dalton Krug, Shelby Grimes, Jennifer Valdez, Kristopher Will, Makala Walsh, LaTia Godina, Alexis Taylor, and Becky Overfield.
The meeting adjourned at 1:34 p.m. with no executive session. The next BBGH board meeting is Monday, September 30th, at noon in the Alliance room. The public is welcome to attend.
Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
