The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

Nearly 90 members attended the Dahl Memorial Healthcare Annual Member Meeting last Thursday at Carter County Events Center. Only forty-five members attended last year.

At the start of the meeting CEO Nadine Elmore took a few minutes to explain to members that she has accepted another position and will be stepping down as CEO at Dahl Memorial. Elmore held the CEO position at Dahl longer than anyone else in the facility's history. She then went on to discuss several of the association's events and activities.

In addition, Elmore spoke on advancing Oscar A. Dahl's mission, gave recognition to the longevity of employees, provided a financial update, and spent time discussing strategic planning; including the hospital building project, tele-medicine, and a community health needs assessment.

There were 28 inpatients at the hospital this year compared to 33 last year. Inpatient days were at 89. Skilled swing bed patients were up to 18 from 16 last year, also causing swing days to go up to 295 from 191. The long term care average daily census was slightly down; 17.6 compared to 18.6 last year.

There were 3098 total lab procedures this year compared to 4000 last year. Emergency room visits were up again this year, totaling 214. Therapy visits were at 524, an increase from previous years that was due-in large part-to a physical therapy program that was implemented. There were a total of 51 ambulance transports throughout the year.

Total patients at the hospital throughout the year were 1595, 130 more than the previous year. Flu clinic numbers totaled 96; 154 more got a flu shot at the clinic later. PAs at Dahl performed 59 physicals for student-athletes. There were ten tele-medicine visits.

Average daily patients at the hospital rose from 6.5 the previous two years to 7.1 this year.

The annual health fair saw fewer participants this year than last at 283. The high for participants at the health fair occurred in 2014 at 324, the low was in 2001 at 206.

Monthly revenues for the 2016-2017 fiscal year averaged $260,877 compared to $245,741 in expenses. This resulted in a monthly profit of $15,136. For the fiscal year, the net profit was $181,632. Elmore expects this number to be closer to last year's $41,309 after a full audit has been performed.

Hospital assets are currently $1,623,981. At last year's meeting assets totaled $1,506,505.

Several employees were recognized for their years of service. A five year award was given to Jessica Walker. Raquel Williams and Judy Wright received 10 year awards, Phil Cook was recognized for 20 years of service, and Peggy Tooke and Deb Yost were recognized for 25.

Five new employees have started work at the hospital since last year's meeting. They include: Rene Hould, CNA; Julie Vanderpool, cook; Michelle Mehling, lab director; Joyce Harkins, Chaplain; and Kristy Buckley, RN.

Strategic planning discussions that have taken place over the course of the last year have included a variety of topics. Some of them included: Medicare payment law, Frontier Healthcare, tele-medicine, an implementation plan, the community health needs assessment, a facility-wide strategic plan, and the ongoing hospital building project.

The most up-to-date plan for the building project is to build a new facility where the old grade school currently stands.

All members who attended the meeting were also presented with possible changes to current association bylaws by Chairperson Brittani Brence. A special meeting will be held in the near future to vote on these potential changes. The association needs somewhere around 50 people to vote on these changes in order for any of them to take effect.

Dale Diede, PA-C, also gave a presentation at the meeting and urged all members of the community to get their flu shots. During his presentation, Diede told a story from his family history and related it to the facility, emphasizing that in order to do what is best for the hospital and the community, everyone needs to work together.

Two board members were elected at the annual meeting. Bud Powell was re-elected to the board of directors and Dane Castleberry will join.