Eastern Plumas Health Care copes with uptick in community covid numbers
The Eastern Plumas Health Care Board of Directors met on the morning of Thursday, June 30 to hold a regular meeting.
After roll call and the consent calendar was approved, it was reported that the Eastern Plumas Health Care Auxiliary had written a check for $126,000 toward the new mammogram machine.
Staff reports
Chief Nursing Officer Penny Holland reported on behalf of Michelle Romero of Infection Control, noting that covid cases were still on the rise both in the community and amongst staff members. “It’s like a rolling sickness—we have staff members out from just about every department right now,” Holland reported. “Of note, EPHC will begin offering infant/toddler Moderna covid vaccines on July 12. Patients will be able to call the clinic to be scheduled. Also, Skilled nursing residents have been tested weekly, with none testing positive since the end of May as of this meeting,” Holland added.
When it came to the Chief Nursing Officers’ report, Holland noted that they were in need of a new central monitoring system. “We’re quite busy,” Holland added.
She also noted that there was a new class starting for CNAs, with EPHC interviewing candidates currently. “We want to be able to get staff to increase patient revenue,” she noted. CEO Doug McCoy reported that there were nine applicants for the CNA class as of the last week for the class starting July 9.
“We are very excited for that,” McCoy said. “We’ve also recently seen an uptick in overall applications, and I think we are seeing as the economy changes a bit, that is drawing some more folks in.”
McCoy spoke about the potential for an H1B Visa candidate for the lab, with a three to five-year commitment. “With covid impacting the community it has been significant, and we have seen a high amount of overtime since May 1 due to staff sickness. There have been 11 hires in the last 30 days at EPHC, however, so that is positive movement.”
Chief financial officer report
CFO Katherine Pairish reported on the 11 months ending May 31, 2022 compared to the eleven months ended May 21, 2021. Year to Date, or YTD revenues were over last year by $6,081,699. Inpatient revenues over last year by $2,229,071. Total operating expenses were over last year by $4,522,049. “We will look to reduce overhead as we plan the next fiscal year budget, which will be presented at the next board meeting,” Pairish said.
Director of rehab services report
Director of Rehab Services Jim Burson spoke, noting that it had been three months since he last reported. “Since our inception in March 2019 as the department has grown, so have our patient care volumes. The past three months were no exception.” The average of new referrals over the last three months alone represents a 38 percent increase year over year at the therapy and wellness center. Two additional clinicians have been added and while overhead was added, the department was on track to grow net income by six percent, said Burson.
Burson also spoke about the plan to expand the departments’ offerings to the community with the return of pediatric outpatient occupational therapy at EPHC.
Burson touched on the planned new therapy clinic that is in the works. “Our construction documents from the architects for the new therapy and wellness center are on schedule to submit to the county for permitting by end of August,” Burson said.
Director of clinics report
DOC Paul Bruning spoke about the high transmission rate of covid in the community before speaking on issues related to utilization of traveling nurses, with a rise in areas such as the lab. “We will be looking for opportunities for remote work in departments that might make sense for as well,” he said.
CEO report
McCoy echoed reports of a significant uptick in covid activity. “Staff is doing a very good job of covering those needs,” he agreed.
Bruning spoke about the upgrades that had been done on both the Loyalton and Portola campuses, and touched on the fuel mitigation efforts around the EPHC property. “We really want to thank the EPHC Auxiliary for their very important contribution to our new mammogram equipment, which will help us with our women’s health initiatives in October,” he said.
It was noted that annualized turnover rates with staff are still lower than national averages, but traveler related issues will be a focus in the upcoming year.
It was noted that EPHC is working with the City of Portola on a CalFire grant to remove as much extra fuel in that area as possibly in fire mitigation efforts.
“I am really pleased with the work our team is doing, McCoy said. “I want to thank everyone out there who makes all of this happen- it takes every single person who works for this institution to make it happen,” McGrath said. Director Augustine Corcoran chimed in that his experience has also been excellent, every time his family is in need of medical care in Loyalton.
At that, the board approved Resolution 298 by 5-0 vote to classify a 2003 Ford F350 ambulance as surplus which is no longer used.
The Finance committee briefly spoke, with Director Paul Swanson, MD noting that it had been another very good year. “We’ve done remarkably well under the circumstances of covid overall,” he said.
At that the meeting went into closed session.
