Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

RGH Meetings Watch - July 19

The Board of Trustees of Roosevelt County Special Hospital District met in regular session Tuesday in the conference room at Roosevelt General Hospital:

  • The meeting opened with a presentation and discussion about emergency department physician staffing by David Copple and Jackie Frazer, the regional medical director for EmCare.
  • John Bridges, RGH safety officer, presented an overview of the significant improvements made in safety and emergency operations. Improvements have been made in insurance and fire inspections, training, safety manuals and emergency operations planning, he said. RGH manages more than $200,000 in grants for emergency preparedness and trauma operations.
  • Eva Stevens, chief financial officer, reported the gross revenue for June was reported as being 5 percent lower than average at $2.7 million. Hospital inpatient, outpatient and clinic services were all reported down for the month. Net operating revenue was $1.77 million and operating expenses were $1.9 million resulting in net loss from operations of $131,109 for the month. June marked the end of the RGH fiscal year. Year-to-date net income was reported to be $1 million or 3 percent of gross revenue.
  • In other action, the board passed a resolution to submit a proposed budget to the state for the fiscal year 2012-2013.

Larry Leaming, chief executive officer, said the budget submitted to the state is an estimate of revenues and expenses for the year but is not a detailed operating budget.

The estimated budget is $48.8 million.

"We're looking at operational growth but we are trying to be conservative with our costs," Leaming said. "The numbers we are putting forward are a projection of the excitement we are carrying over. It is a positive estimation of the numbers."

  • Anne Grayson, chief of staff, reported on the activities of the RGH Medical Staff. Based upon the recommendation of the RGH medical staff, the board approved Stanely Cook, Howard Nunn, and Robert Pinkston, for privileges in radiology. Connie Belcher and Neelu Finley were also approved for ancillary medical staff privileges.

Grayson reported on actions of the medical staff to improve the medical screening exam process in the emergency department. This process is used to identify emergency medical conditions for immediate treatment and also identify non-emergency patients.

Grayson also reported that the after-hours clinic is growing in popularity and seeing more patients.

  • Maxine Montano, chief nursing officer, reported that departments have completed a review and update of all policies and procedures. She informed board members that the nursing department just had a big celebration to congratulate its medical surgical staff for receiving a 99th percentile rating in patient satisfaction in the Medicare survey.

Montano noted that the CT scanner has just been updated to provide amazing new images. The radiologists are pleased with the pictures that the new system is producing.

  • Leaming reported that RGH will be rewarded for exceptional quality improvement and customer satisfaction by receiving full reimbursement from Medicare next year.
  • The board passed a proclamation declaring that the Hospital Board election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in conjunction with the general election. Two board seats are up for election this November: Peggy Davis in District 3 and Fred Anthony in District 4.

— Compiled by Larry E. Leaming.