Brookings Health System
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
February 27, 2023
The Brookings Health System Board of Trustees held a meeting on February 27, 2023, at the Brookings Hospital in the Board Room with the following members present: Dick Peterson, Lynn Darnall, Andrew Ellsworth, Tracy Greene, Don Greiner, Mary Anne Krogh, David Meyer, Jim Morgan and Ex-officio: Joey Collins and Brianna Doran
Absent: Sheila Anderson
Management Present: Jason Merkley, CEO; Tammy Hillestad, CNO; Melissa Wagner, CFO and Sheri Wiig, recorder
President Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
AGENDA
A motion was made by Darnall, seconded by Morgan to approve the agenda. All present voted in favor; motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Darnall, seconded by Krogh to approve the following consent agenda items: January 30, 2023, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes and February 15, 2023 Medical Executive Committee Meeting Minutes.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM
Article of interest included: “Change, Opportunities, and Threats”, Healthcare Innovation. Merkley commented on the timely article featuring many challenges and changes happening in healthcare organizations across the county including intensified cybersecurity concerns.
REPORTS
Executive Reports
CEO Report
Merkley announced it has been a week of recognition for Brookings Health System. Brookings Health was named, for the third consecutive year, to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list; for the eighth consecutive year, Brookings Health System has been included by The Chartis Center for Rural Health on the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list, and one of the Top 20 rural and community hospital in America. These awards are very exciting for our staff and well deserved.
CFO Report
Wagner provided an update on what will and what will not be affected by the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, which is ending May 11, 2023. Wagner also noted due to financial triggers a Federal Awards/Single Audit for FY22 will take place for BHS.
CNO Report
Hillestad reported on several clinical service areas focusing on quality and education that takes place within the hospital. Patient experience coach, Karen Weber, is focusing on educating department directors on the topic of “Blameless Apology” to help teach the proper way an apology should be done. Hillestad also noted two (2) Registered Nurses recently completed the specialized training course to become Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) who assist sexual assault victims that present to the emergency department. Brookings Health now has a total of three (3) SANE nurses.
Board Committee Reports
Due to the two-day winter weather event, committee meetings were not held. Merkley updated members on a few topics:
- Legislatively things are going well in Pierre and there is still support for increased Medicaid funding.
- ED physician, Dr. Dreessen, will be relocating this summer; a search for his replacement is underway. Recruitment for an Orthopedic Surgeon in conjunction with Avera continues.
- Dr. Tessa Warner and Dr. Zoilo Lansang are urgent care providers at Avera Medical Group Brookings/Access Health.
- Outreach providers: Dr. Santos of Dakota Vascular; Dr. Nicolescu (hand surgeon) and Dr. Volkmer both Avera Orthopedics.
- Consideration to expand telehealth outreach services is being researched in the areas of Infectious Disease and Pulmonology to help keep patients local.
OLD BUSINESS
City Ordinance – Chapter 42
Merkley shared, comments on the ordinance are almost ready to be shared with the City Council and Mayor Niemeyer.
NEW BUSINESS
Medical Staff Credentialing
A motion was made by Ellsworth, seconded by Greene to approve all credentialing as recommended by the Medical Executive Committee.
Action: All present voted in favor; motion carried.
AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference Report
Members who attended the American Hospital Association Rural Health Care Leadership Conference (Morgan, Meyer, Greiner, and Merkley) provided feedback regarding their session experiences. The most common concerns for all in attendance are workforce and financial related matters. Brookings Health is already addressing many of the ideas and solutions presented on workforce initiatives. Consensus amongst the group was the conference, overall, was a good experience with record attendance by others across the country involved in rural healthcare. It was reassuring to know the board is on the right track with many of the topics discussed.
Upon motion by Ellsworth, second by Greiner, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________________________
Lynn Darnall, Secretary
(Addendum to the February 27, 2023, Board of Trustees Minutes)
Personnel Information
January New Hires
Cross, Deirdre $11.50; Dulas, Alexa $29.00; Dunn, Marie $17.02; Ellsworth, Lacey $46.50; Gayetaye, Grace $15.22; Haag, Brooke $16.90; Hillestad, Sharlene $14.06; Hoffman, Courtney $15.52; Hubbard, Jaci $16.57; Lang, Cassidy $15.08; Myhre, Morgan $15.87; Nerad, Anna; $15.35; Nhial, Achol $15.00; Nylund, Julie $36.00; Pommer, Andrea $31.03; West, Amanda $30.74; Carr, April $15.51
January Wage Changes
Anderson, Ashley $15.51; Holzer, Tucker $15.51; Kirby, Cory $125.00; Winseman, Nicole $47.87; Klinkhammer, Joshua $120.00; Kvamme, Brian $127.00; Mendel, Jennifer $115.00; Overby, Amber $112.00