CCHS Board Report

DAYTON – The Columbia County Public Hospital District now has a new president of the commission, and a new board member.

At their regular meeting last week, Commission Vice-President Jim Kime turned the gavel over to the board’s newly selected chairwoman Lisa Naylor, who will serve until January, 2016.

The commissioners then selected long-time farmer and local resident Bob Hutchens to fill the seat recently vacated by Ted Paterson, who has retired.

Hutchens spoke before the commissioners about his vision to keep CCHS healthy. He also touched on the many bumps, challenges and complications from regulations that health care providers need to navigate.

“You just can’t fix things with baling wire,” he said.

Hutchens said he wants to help make sure that people will consider CCHS first when utilizing health services, and that patients will receive the quality of health care they expect to receive from CCHS.

Hutchens will serve on the board of commissioners until 2017 and then, he, or another person, can choose to run for a two-year unexpired term. In 2019 the election cycle returns to a six-year term.

The commissioners are also providing Hutchens with an opportunity to help in the search for a new CEO. They agreed to invite CEO candidate Tom Tomasino back to the table to be interviewed by Hutchens.

Tomasino, a former CEO of Whidby General Hospital in Coupeville, Wash., is one of three candidates for CEO. The others are Lee Holter, chief financial officer for CCHS, and Shane McGuire, chief operating officer for CCHS.

The commissioners plan to hold a special meeting in about two weeks to make their decision on choice of candidate for CEO.

Hospital remodel

The hospital officials have narrowed their search for a general contractor/general manager for the hospital remodel to three companies: Leonie and Keeble, Inc., of Spokane; T. W. Clark Construction, LLC, of Spokane; and Chervenell Construction Co. of Kennewick.

“They represent a good cross section of contractors,” said COO McGuire.

McGuire expects to have interviews with them in November.

Other hospital board news

The hospital board of commissioners also heard from CEO Lee Holter about plans for a budget increase in 2016. There will be a ten percent rate hike on items up to $500.00, a five percent rate hike on items up to $2,000.00 and the nursing home daily rate will go up five dollars, generating some additional revenue, he said.

McGuire told the commissioners about the need to purchase a timekeeping system called Kronos that is compatible with the new Meditech computer system.

The commissioners approved a request that $62,000 be made available for the purchase of the Kronos system. Funds will come out of the operating budget according to CFO Holter.

McGuire also told the commissioners about a leaking hot water tank in the Booker Nursing Home.

The leaking tank services 36 to 40 residents at Booker and there are 67 devices pulling water out of it, making rapid recovery essential, he explained.

McGuire has received two estimates so far, and Holter said that the Blue Mountain Foundation, the hospital district and the Booker construction account could be used to pay for a new tank.