Brookings Health System
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
September 27, 2021
Board of Trustees
Present: Daryl Englund, Dick Peterson, Sheila Anderson, Lynn Darnall (WebEx) Andrew Ellsworth, Mary Anne Krogh, David Meyer and Justin Sell. Ex-Officio: Patty Bacon, Leah Brink (WebEx) and Larry Jensen
Absent: James Morgan
Management Present: Jason Merkley, CEO; Tammy Hillestad, CNO; Melissa Wagner, CFO and Sheri Wiig, recorder
President Englund called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
Englund welcomed and introduced County Chairperson, Larry Jensen, who was attending in place of ex-officio Ryan Krogman.
Provider Service Agreement (PSA) Financial Review
Melissa Wagner, Chief Financial Officer, presented a high level overview of the PSA (Professional Services Agreement) with Avera Medical Group Brookings. Wagner reported on historical changes and financial impact since its formation in 2014. In November of 2020 primary care providers converted to a FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) leaving the specialty care providers under the PSA. Forecasted financial trends for the PSA are positive.
Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Krogh, seconded by Peterson to approve the agenda and the following consent agenda items: August 30, 2021 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes, August 18, 2021 Medical Executive Committee Minutes and August 2021 Financials, Adjustments and Payables as follows:
August 2021 Payables:
Hilsinger Company Parent LLC, $13.92; Bayer Healthcare LLC, $1,308.92; Culligan Water Conditioning, $2,500.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $1,861.28; Avera McKennan Hospital, $44.52; Patient-Insurance Refund, $69.95; Fagron Sterile Services, $458.78; Patient-Insurance Refund, $30.00; Robert Hyk, $817.20; Florida State Disbursement Unit, $108.60; Ashley Schmidt, $14.00; Ashley Engelstad, $313.36; Avera McKennan Hospital, $911,654.30; Patient-Insurance Refund, $2,394.64; Fagron Sterile Services, $280.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $192.77; Stryker Sales Corporation, $18,451.03; WW Tire Service Inc, $160.40; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, $1,680.53; Physicians Laboratory LTD, $3,320.56; McKesson Medical Surgical, $1,629.30; Stryker Orthopaedics, $7,201.54; Avera McKennan Hospital, $133,456.72; Jaclyn Boldt, $157.00; PharMerica, $101.16; Shari Kleinjan, $644.88; Bardy Diagnostics Inc, $1,000.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $129.00; Sarstedt Inc, $603.02; WW Tire Service Inc, $736.00; Intuitive Surgical Inc, $4,029.95; Credit Collections Bureau, $50.95; Dakota Data Shred, $280.76; Kristen Zobel, $512.72; Patient-Insurance Refund, $300.00; Aflac Group Insurance, $179.16; Patient-Insurance Refund, $116.10; WW Tire Service Inc, $204.82; Patient-Insurance Refund, $60.69; Patient-Insurance Refund, $49.53; Mitel Cloud Services, $848.65; Patient-Insurance Refund, $9.37; Patient-Insurance Refund, $19.13; Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Inc, $122.80; Patient-Insurance Refund, $121.50; Collection Services Center, $201.69; Avantara Arlington, $4,202.28; Patient-Insurance Refund, $18.09; Pan O Gold Baking Co, $124.18; Kone Inc, $1,388.81; Olympus America Inc, $708.33; Experian Health Inc, $3,467.68; Patient-Insurance Refund, $205.14; DVL Fire and Safety LLC, $373.50; Allegra Printing & Imaging, $920.36; Brothers Pharmacy & Gifts, $6,636.20; A-OX Welding Supply Co Inc, $5,832.59; RR Donnelley, $414.00; Owens & Minor, $17,295.66; Arlington Municipal Utilities, $321.82; Tyler Richard Harrell, $1,000.00; CR Bard Inc, $1,140.96; Bound Tree Medical LLC, $513.69; McKeever Inc, $261.60; Patient-Insurance Refund, $259.48; Cassling, $5,375.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $38.56; Vyaire Medical Inc, $67.08; CR Bard Inc, $1,654.75; Lindsey Bothwell, $103.60; Patient-Insurance Refund, $22.50; Kool Beans Coffee, $435.85; ABB Optical Group, $581.40; Bay Medical Products LLC, $231.80; Patient-Insurance Refund, $43.98; Humana Claims Office, $245.12; Europa Eyewear Corporation, $1,051.42; Medline Industries Inc, $622.25; Hamlin County Publishing Inc, $229.50; RR Donnelley, $55.00; Hailey Milton, $257.60; Mix Dry Cleaners Inc, $31.75; Midwest Urologic Stone Unit Limited, $4,250.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $100.00; DeliverHealth Solutions LLC, $241.72; Bracco Diagnostics Inc, $536.43; Fedex, $105.34; Aspex Eyewear Inc, $689.92; Andrew Ellsworth, $300.00; Cardinal Health, $1,430.54; Patient-Insurance Refund, $63.00; Walman Instruments, $74.99; Avera Home Medical Equipment, $2,184.81; Fagron Sterile Services, $381.22; Sarstedt Inc, $56.47; Voyager Fleet Systems Inc, $2,631.95; MVAP Medical Supplies Inc, $260.00; Cooks Waste Paper & Recycling, $1,945.33; Network Services Company, $3,227.30; Ability Network Inc, $184.07; Abbott Laboratories, $241.93; Peggy Morris Ferkul, $323.68; Patient-Insurance Refund, $178.00; South Dakota Supplement Plan, $6,794.91; South Dakota Health Care Assoc, $584.00; Sanford Training Center, $128.00; Network Services Company, $5,126.16; US Compounding Inc, $135.00; Town & Country Shopper Inc, $384.00; American Association of Nurse, $136.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $65.91; CooperSurgical Inc, $2,350.46; Medtronic Inc, $2,261.12; Allegra Printing & Imaging, $982.84; Patient-Insurance Refund, $29.65; Network Services Company, $2,236.39; Roy Hope, $50.00; Pan O Gold Baking Co, $137.44; Patient-Insurance Refund, $42.67; Patient-Insurance Refund, $45.76; Midwest Fresh Catering, $3,360.00; Carquest Auto Parts, $15.60; Brookings Municipal Utilities, $75,173.53; Caresfield LLC, $582.48; Patient-Insurance Refund, $258.00; Nuance Communications, $46.53; Diagnostica Stago Inc, $3,473.52; Patient-Insurance Refund, $24.43; Arthrex Inc, $2,751.00; Interstate Office Products Inc, $74.04; Medtronic Inc, $20,683.25; East Side Jersey Dairy Inc, $279.16; Minn-Kota Pest Control, $585.50; Rushmore Service Center LLC, $223.42; Mediacom LLC, $2,287.64; Century Business Products, $2,491.45; Scott Raabe, $817.20; Johnson & Johnson Health Care, $1,517.12; Cardinal Health, $616.53; Nephron 503B Outsourcing Facility, $675.17; Physicians Laboratory LTD, $5,664.92; Conmed Corp, $170.00; Debra Miller, $26.32; Arthrex Inc, $420.00; Mediacom LLC, $70.01; Lexisnexis Risk Data Management Inc, $405.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $68.65; Jennifer Chandler, $98.56; Physicians Laboratory LTD, $719.87; Patient-Insurance Refund, $6.99; Allergan, $8,756.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $74.49; Precision Lens, $2,013.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $112.29; Centurylink, $94.03; Performance Health Supply Inc, $22.88; Patient-Insurance Refund, $100.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $10.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $51.40; Centurylink, $278.78; Emily Vanderwal, $195.76; Baxter Healthcare Corp, $1,475.84; K&K Interiors Inc, $280.43; Patient-Insurance Refund, $3,550.32; Kyla Huntimer, $535.68; BP of Brookings Inc, $905.75; Daryl Englund, $400.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $30.00; McKesson Medical Surgical, $1,363.22; Medline Industries Inc, $449.95; Patient-Insurance Refund, $391.54; Silver Screen Advertising, $150.00; Minn-Kota Pest Control, $149.38; Stryker Endoscopy, $1,232.93; Transmed Inc, $1,463.00; Dakota Splash Inc, $104.00; Dornier Medtech America Inc, $664.50; Patient-Insurance Refund, $30.00; Brian D Detmers, $200.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $126.50; Patient-Insurance Refund, $25.43; Patient-Insurance Refund, $29.13; Emily Sobczak, $153.44; Patient-Insurance Refund, $140.78; Patient-Insurance Refund, $17.34; Rushmore Service Center LLC, $223.42; Xigent Solutions, $3,080.78; Foerster Office & Janitorial Supply, $3,950.00; Precision Dynamics Corp, $35.30; Gordon Dekkenga, $116.88; Patient-Insurance Refund, $799.00; Medivators, $500.00; Credit Collections Bureau, $1,511.37; Patient-Insurance Refund, $269.69; Dana Hohn, $200.71; National Medical Resources Inc, $934.44; Patient-Insurance Refund, $250.00; Brookings Area United Way, $225.78; Avel eCare LLC, $3,622.50; Microline Surgical Inc, $611.80; Patient-Insurance Refund, $25.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $26.35; South Dakota Retirement System, $175,254.17; Melby Photography, $74.00; Jessie Kuechenmeister, $107.36; Midwest Special Instruments Corp, $94.00; City of White, $94.22; Patient-Insurance Refund, $564.49; Sara Gortmaker, $26.32; NRC Health, $9,350.56; OR Specific, $408.00; South Dakota Supplement Plan, $1,705.38; 9 Clouds Marketing Group LLC, $1,466.52; Bausch & Lomb - Vision Care, $1,041.48; Fisher Healthcare, $6,225.56; De Rigo REM, $58.96; Fisher Healthcare, $448.14; Intuitive Surgical Inc, $15,869.75; Sheila Anderson, $300.00; Stryker Orthopaedics, $10,890.64; Patient-Insurance Refund, $10.00; Optos Inc, $208.33; Building Sprinkler Company Inc, $686.40; Patient-Insurance Refund, $20.00; KCI USA, $2,630.56; Bound Tree Medical LLC, $165.04; Patient-Insurance Refund, $1,755.54; High Point Networks LLC, $43.75; NCS Pearson Inc, $137.00; Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc, $253.90; Olympus America Inc, $1,350.00; Samantha Drealan, $246.96; Patient-Insurance Refund, $14.40; Hamlin County Publishing Inc, $114.75; Brothers Pharmacy & Gifts, $21.17; Kool Beans Coffee, $171.20; Brookings Area Transit Auth Inc, $1,000.00; Draeger Inc, $828.91; Patient-Insurance Refund, $37.40; Medtox Laboratories Inc, $35.00; Kelly Evans, $300.00; First Bank & Trust, $1,015.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $81.60; Avera Medical Group Flandreau, $50.00; Interim Healthcare, $1,026.25; UPS, $96.85; South Dakota Supplement Plan, $6,619.91; CVS Caremark, $34.53; Patient-Insurance Refund, $81.79; CPSI, $2,144.53; Justin G Sell, $300.00; Chesterman Co, $484.28; Patient-Insurance Refund, $493.19; Gynex, $115.40; Florida State Disbursement Unit, $108.60; Patient-Insurance Refund, $13.26; Wal-Mart Pharmacy, $38.06; Patient-Insurance Refund, $250.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $967.37; Hubert Company, $202.30; Interstate Office Products Inc, $179.55; Patient-Insurance Refund, $11.00; Avera Health, $500.00; Wapiti Medical Staffing, $1,480.80; Patient-Insurance Refund, $46.83; ABB Optical Group, $2,260.82; Medical Information Technology Inc, $14,070.00; Runnings Supply Inc, $160.15; GE Precision Healthcare LLC, $11,538.68; City of Brookings, $423.44; Teleflex Funding LLC, $90.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $2,398.96; Midcontinent Communications, $1,595.75; Blend Interactive Inc, $400.00; Cardinal Health, $1,374.61; Northwestern Energy, $1,415.51; Wapiti Medical Staffing, $1,437.28; Business Card, $15,049.11; Darlene Deknikker, $238.56; Allegra Printing & Imaging, $965.91; Patient-Insurance Refund, $96.30; Rove Staffing LLC, $3,311.00; Fedex, $158.61; CR Bard Inc, $903.40; Brookings Register, $25.56; Healthstream Inc, $2,758.44; Intrado Interactive Services Corp, $103.20; Hy-Vee Accounts Receivable, $1,230.78; Caresfield LLC, $155.28; City of Volga, $22.58; Northwestern Energy, $179.95; Patient-Insurance Refund, $60.01; Pan O Gold Baking Co, $244.00; Brock M Smith, $1,212.70; GIS Benefits, $10,234.28; East Side Jersey Dairy Inc, $666.71; Interstate Telecommunications Coop, $185.83; Interstate Office Products Inc, $218.99; Allergan, $6,571.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $107.80; ProChem Dynamics LLC, $49.50; SDN Communications, $1,305.92; Madison Regional Health System, $4,875.52; Boston Scientific Corporation, $884.05; Nox Medical LLC Lockbox, $1,343.21; Stryker Sales Corp, $9,509.56; Cardinal Health Pharmacy Svcs LLC, $3,159.00; Stryker Sales Corp, $2,152.13; Sleep Center Services LLC, $819.00; Deb Aalderks, $137.52; Patient-Insurance Refund, $25.00; Rove Staffing LLC, $1,500.00; Baxter Healthcare Corp, $354.26; East Side Jersey Dairy Inc, $579.50; Abbott Laboratories, $382.96; Mimedx Group Inc, $2,270.50; Steris Corporation, $130.20; Walman Instruments, $10,569.47; Avera Health, $7,285.00; Becton Dickinson and Company, $2,154.76; Medbridge Inc, $200.00; Live Eyewear, $111.35; Farner-Bocken Company, $498.31; Telephone Systems & Service Inv, $887.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $93.32; Patient-Insurance Refund, $79.13; Patient-Insurance Refund, $320.65; Nova Biomedical, $994.42; Patient-Insurance Refund, $35.00; Gregg Tebeest, $33.04; Patient-Insurance Refund, $65.00; Northwestern Energy, $12.71; Department of Social Services, $712.75; Patient-Insurance Refund, $15.33; Phil Carlson, $50.00; Sanford Training Center, $65.00; Baxter Healthcare Corp, $4,432.99; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, $48.50; Department of Social Services, $712.75; Medline Industries Inc, $1,094.11; Baxter Healthcare Corp, $1,331.66; David M Meyer, $300.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $10.67; Dakota Service & Repair, $486.65; Cardinal Health 414 LLC, $1,735.09; South Dakota Supplement Plan, $6,819.91; Natalie Christina Owens-Sloan, $758.17; ABB Optical Group, $627.22; James Morgan, $300.00; Otis Elevator Company, $207.71; Scan Sound Inc, $66.76; Credit Collections Bureau, $50.95; Verizon Wireless, $1,092.88; Julie Henry, $273.28; Patient-Insurance Refund, $146.47; Precision Lens, $3,020.00; Rental Depot, $56.95; South Dakota Department of Health, $74.00; State Hygenic Laboratory- Accts Rec, $2,106.00; Arthrex Inc, $950.00; Foerster Office & Janitorial Supply, $2,355.00; Owens & Minor, $40,469.47; Avera Health, $1,625.00; Innovative Medical Products Inc, $146.64; MVMD Prof LLC, $26,910.00; Tri-Anim Health Services Inc, $44.18; Accounts Management Inc, $507.72; Sean Sundermann, $817.20; Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc, $399.11; Brookings Health Systems, $2,304.62; Patient-Insurance Refund, $13.73; Audio Connections, $143.96; Fidelity Security Life, $3,542.79; Interstate All Battery Center, $225.00; Office Peeps Inc, $146.80; Owens & Minor, $15,600.98; Agiliti Health Inc, $368.00; Collection Services Center, $201.69; Patient-Insurance Refund, $77.80; Cyracom LLC, $1,086.71; Flowers On Main, $172.50; Bracco Diagnostics Inc, $312.13; Boston Scientific Corporation, $1,324.39; Bayer Healthcare LLC, $1,310.56; Accounts Management Inc, $408.04; Hill Refrigeration, $292.50; Carquest Auto Parts, $26.10; Randi Bauman, $404.64; Fedex, $304.89; Owens & Minor, $20,702.16; Patient-Insurance Refund, $45.76; Arthrex Inc, $675.00; Becton Dickinson and Company, $452.16; Patient-Insurance Refund, $85.00; Stryker Orthopaedics, $4,997.00; Jill Merriam, $444.96; Mix Dry Cleaners Inc, $270.00; Allegra Printing & Imaging, $1,405.12; Lindsay Hillestad, $39.52; Swiftel Communications, $6,195.77; Patient-Insurance Refund, $39.91; Aerin Medical Inc, $5,276.57; Cardinal Health 414 LLC, $5,524.05; Lynn M Darnall, $300.00; Buhls Drycleaning, $49.00; Applied Medical Resources, $400.00; Abbott Laboratories, $112.57; Johnson Controls, $417.79; Donna Bumann, $89.04; Aspex Eyewear Inc, $149.98; Diagnostica Stago Inc, $1,654.00; Interstate Office Products Inc, $376.36; Patient-Insurance Refund, $60.10; Qualified Presort Service LLC, $3,488.10; Department of Public Safety, $370.00; Catherine Leadabrand, $63.80; Sanford Training Center, $24.00; Stryker Endoscopy, $1,374.24; Boys & Girls Club of Brookings, $5,000.00; Computer Products & Supplies Intl, $454.98; Patient-Insurance Refund, $45.76; Bausch & Lomb - Vision Care, $3,540.73; Patient-Insurance Refund, $45.76; Patient-Insurance Refund, $39.60; Sierra Wireless America Inc, $29.96; Patient-Insurance Refund, $70.00; Beaver-Visitec International Inc, $619.81; Brookings Area United Way, $226.78; Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa, $233.00; Courtesy Plumbing Inc, $136.00; Stryker Orthopaedics, $5,053.66; Madison Regional Health System, $400.00; Richard H Peterson, $300.00; Avera Home Medical Equipment, $640.19; Sioux Falls Aquatics LLC, $550.00; i3 Verticals POS, $422.40; Patient-Insurance Refund, $250.00; Stanley Halseide, $55.00; Hilsinger Company Parent LLC, $211.96; Patient-Insurance Refund, $22.34; Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, $1,427.24; WW Tire Service Inc, $1,597.76; Europa Eyewear Corporation, $22.45; Patient-Insurance Refund, $85.47; Stryker Endoscopy, $6,247.86; East Side Jersey Dairy Inc, $300.17; Grainger Inc, $33.92; Medela Inc, $81.98; Interim Healthcare, $1,900.50; High Point Networks LLC, $131.25; Cardinal Health 414 LLC, $2,928.88; Infusystem Inc, $405.00; Step Saver Inc, $76.52; Patient-Insurance Refund, $30.00; Richard Ewing Equipment Co Inc, $548.75; Patient-Insurance Refund, $239.92; Kleerspex Group LLC, $110.24; Qualified Presort Service LLC, $1,227.71; Patient-Insurance Refund, $222.12; Alcon Vision LLC, $7,974.72; Patient-Insurance Refund, $10.60; Sarstedt Inc, $65.53; Performance Health Supply Inc, $9.60; Lactation Education Resources Inc, $89.00; Flowers On Main, $112.00; Mud Pie LLC, $138.13; City of Brookings, $57.46; Continental Optical Imports, $24.44; Angela Shoup, $120.16; Fisher Healthcare, $12,556.21; CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, $7,516.35; Patient-Insurance Refund, $35.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $961.13; Fujifilm Sonosite Inc, $45,990.00; Dedicated Investment Group, $982.80; Sean Sundermann, $1,004.70; Cardinal Health, $5,799.80; Medivators, $1,040.00; Continental Optical Imports, $59.34; Chelsey Granum, $26.32; Ramsdell F&M Ltd, $43.60; Kimberly Gray, $2,000.00; McKesson Medical Surgical, $184.49; Constellation Newenergy Gas Div LLC, $18,425.96; Centurylink, $8.92; Ban-Koe Companies Inc, $790.00; Carquest Auto Parts, $13.57; Olympus America Inc, $468.65; First Bank & Trust, $1,015.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $66.66; Stericycle Inc, $981.70; Scott Raabe, $817.20; Beth Nemmers, $71.44; Dell Marketing LP, $11,330.66; McKeever Inc, $130.50; Aflac Group Insurance, $9,414.36; Amanda Trowbridge, $25.00; Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Svcs, $722.18; Karla Hanson, $416.08; Physicians Laboratory LTD, $2,266.33; Vocera Communications Inc, $1,323.40; Einspahr Auto Plaza Inc, $3,019.52; Chesterman Co, $137.45; Valued Relationships Inc, $1,898.47; Dakota Truck Underwriters, $13,211.84; Sanford Health, $310.73; Laura Crooks, $374.08; Brian Kvamme, $645.00; Steris Corporation, $322.82; Patient-Insurance Refund, $112.93; Alpha Media LLC, $2,735.00; United Technologies, $910.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $67.28; Graybar Electric Co, $118.60; ProChem Dynamics LLC, $54.50; South Dakota Retirement System, $267,295.25; Medivators, $930.00; Patient-Insurance Refund, $129.00; Heidi Henderscheidt, $63.84; Pharmacy Specialties & Clinic Inc, $133.00; Performance Health Supply Inc, $150.09; Motion Picture Licensing Corp, $170.51; Agiliti Health Inc, $26,292.93; CR Bard Inc, $291.23; Shelly Deknikker, $447.76; Patient-Insurance Refund, $30.00; Lynette Richarz, $297.36; Plan B Eyewear Inc, $219.61; Sherwin-Williams Co, $47.91; Optisource International, $353.61; Chesterman Co, $417.34; MJ Dalsin, $913.41; Patient-Insurance Refund, $35.00; Lowes Business Account, $1,519.75; Intrado Interactive Services Corp, $122.14; Converdia Health Staffing, $6,128.37; Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Inc, $132.28; Patient-Insurance Refund, $376.04; Patient-Insurance Refund, $138.76; Deloris Intermill, $50.00; Aflac Group Insurance, $119.44; Precision Lens, $1,652.00; ABB Optical Group, $207.53
Total: $2,433,856.54
Action: All present voted yes; motion carried.
August New Hires:
Deslauriers, Camille $13.74; Wesdorp, Sarah $29.75; Avis, Nicolette $13.60; Sundet, Holly $34.75; Hauswedell, Jennifer $29.00; Kieve, Kayla $14.75; Van Dam, Holli $28.00; Stevens, Stacey $19.00; Moore, Meredith $12.82; Devine, Jacob $13.50; Beyers, Grace $12.25; Otta, Madelynne $13.32; Kokenge, Lindsay $10.50; Rost, Stacey $34.50
August Wage Changes:
Hailmemariam, Tseganesh $12.32; Jerstad, John $184.69; Korah, Mammen $12.32; Hirschoff, Sydney $25.16; Gee, Makayala $12.32; Cordes, Melody $12.32; Johnson, Diana $12.32; Konadu, Abigail $12.32; Steen, Nicole $12.32
Informational Items
Articles of interest included “Brookings Health System’s Wound Center”, Midwest Medical Edition; “Building The Hospital Of The Future…Now, Sanford’s Bold Vision for Rural Healthcare”, Midwest Medical Edition; “Healthcare and more, by and for the community”, Managed Healthcare Executive; and, “The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Overview”, CMS.
Hillestad commented on the article “Healthcare and more, by and for the community” referencing Community Health Workers. Brookings Health recently received a grant from the South Dakota Department of Health to participate in the Community Health Worker (CHW) program utilizing EMT personnel to focus on care transitions, social determinants and population health. A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a close understanding of the community to bridge the gap between social work and health care. South Dakota has minimal utilization of the CHW program up to this point and it will be a large initiative across the state to help the underserved and high utilizers of care.
Merkley commented on The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Overview noting Brookings Health has greatly benefited from the federal program since its beginning in 2004. The program helps smaller rural community PPS hospitals meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries and reinvest capital back into operations and facilities.
Executive Reports
CEO Report
Merkley noted Brookings Health System’s new Human Resources Director, Kayla Ronne, began her duties today. Ronne came to us from Sanford Health in Sioux Falls with a little over seven (7) years of experience. Merkley also stated he is proud to share Brookings Health System was recently recognized as a “Vaccination Ambassador” by the Great Plains Quality Innovation Network for achieving a COVID-19 staff vaccination rate of 75% or greater. A “Thank You” video was viewed which was created by South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) to thank all South Dakota health care heroes for their commitment to the profession over the past 18 months of the pandemic.
CFO Report
Wagner commented Mellissa Heermann, previously the Business Office Director, has transitioned into a new role as Revenue Cycle Director which combines Medical Health Information and Business Office together to build on opportunities and synergies between the two areas. Wagner also shared a historical payer mix diagram.
CNO Report
Hillestad shared a celebration was held for the Home Health department for passing an onsite Department of Health survey with no deficiencies. Hillestad also noted there are a few updates to the hospitalist program: Dr. Owens Sloan recently relocated back to North Carolina; in a few months, Dr. Delawar will relocate to be near family in Texas; and, Dr. Kruse has moved over from the Avera clinic to be a full time hospitalist.
Board Committee Reports
Administrative Committee
President Englund provided a report; the Administrative Committee met on September 21, 2021. Topics of discussion included Brookings Health System’s Strategic Plan, da Vinci Robot Xi, Workforce Strategy/Salary & Wage Survey, Board Nominee/Reappointments, Board Committee Structure/Bylaws and COVID Update/Vaccinations.
Finance Committee
Committee Chair Peterson provided a report; the Finance Committee met on September 21, 2021. The committee reviewed and approved the payables, adjustments and financials for August. Other topics of discussion included an Updated Cash Flow Report, High Needs Wage Increases, City External Auditor Selection and FY22 Capital Budget.
Quality Committee
Quality Committee Chair Ellsworth provided a report; the Quality Committee met on September 21, 2021. Steve Timmerman, Pharmacy Director, presented information on Pharmacy and Therapeutics. Other topics of discussion were Q1/Q2 2021 Patient and Resident Safety, 2020 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey and a COVID/Vaccinations Update.
Old Business
COVID-19 Update
Merkley provided an update on COVID-19 and vaccination efforts/mandates. Brookings Health is experiencing the same trends as the rest of the country with unvaccinated individuals coming to the hospital requiring hospitalization or ICU care. Positivity rates continue to be high for the community and the peak may still be a few weeks away. Monument Health recently joined the vaccine mandate and now, all three large health systems in the state have a mandate in place. Brookings Health will remain neutral at this time and await more information from the Federal Government. Stress and fatigue within the workforce is a major concern as Brookings Health System is seeing record summer volume and retention of staff is of the upmost importance. Initial discussions are underway on how we move forward in the community to provide the COVID-19 boosters and address the 5-11 year olds once approved for vaccination.
New Business
Medical Staff Credentialing
A motion was made by Ellsworth, seconded by Peterson to approve the credentialing and re-credentialing as recommended by the Medical Executive Committee.
Action: All present voted yes; motion carried.
Building Committee/Bylaws Amendment
A recommendation was brought forward from the Administrative Committee to eliminate/remove the Building Committee from the Board of Trustees bylaws due to the fact that the majority of campus renovation and expansion has been completed per our Master Campus Plan. If the need arises, a special committee can be formed by the Board President to address future building or renovation projects. A redlined document was provided striking the Building Committee from Article 7 of the bylaws. The elimination of the Building Committee will take effect January, 2022.
A motion was made by Peterson seconded by Ellsworth to approve the removal of the Building Committee from the bylaws.
Action: All presented voted yes; motion carried.
Upon motion by Anderson, second by Sell the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________________
Sheila Anderson, Secretary