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VAN DYKE -- The Board of Directors met in
a called session on Thursday, June 7, with only four of its six
members present.
New Board president Gale Easley conducted
the meeting with members Joe Locke, Karen Carr and Billy Ray Evans
participating. Charles Mazurek and Janna Morris were absent.
This marked the first Board meeting where
the hospital's new chief executive officer, Kevin Storey, was present
and serving in that capacity.
Emergency Room — Contract Physicians
Gale Easley called on Storey to discuss a
proposed contract with Southwestern Medical Associates, a
Rockport-based physicians group that provides emergency room physician
services.
Storey noted that the hospital's medical
staff was in support of the agreement. He stated that the contract
called for emergency room coverage by Southwestern on an every other
weekend basis for 60 hours, starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday and
continuing through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, or as needed.
Chief Nursing Officer Shannon Steigleder
said that the mid-level medical providers were scheduled to continue
providing daytime ER coverage throughout the remainder of June. She
added that although the schedule originally discussed was as Storey
described, it had since been revised down to 48 hours beginning at
12:00 a.m. on Saturday. The change was made so that a single contract
physician could be used over the weekend.
Storey noted that the contract called for
only family practice, ER-trained physicians be provided, and that it
allowed third year residents to be used. Storey added that using third
year residents would allow the hospital to try out prospective staff
physicians. He said that the contract had a provision that would allow
for hiring with the payment of appropriate employment fees. He added
that the hospital's staff physicians were "pretty adamant" that they
needed the help in the ER.
Steigleder stated that it would take
around a month to get the contract physicians' profiles in and
reviewed to make sure they met the hospital's level of trauma
certification and to have actual service to begin.
In response to Board member questions, it
was noted that the hospital had the right to request a particular
contract physician no longer be used, and that the hospital had a 90
day right to cancel the contract, although its original term runs for
one year. The 48 hours every other week is the minimum coverage, with
the service being available for added coverage as needed. The cost is
$75 per hour, which was noted as being a little less than what the
hospital is currently paying its staff physicians.
Karen Carr made a motion to approve the
proposed contract, and Joe Locke seconded. The vote was unanimous in
favor.
Proposal from DeLeon ISD for Hospital
Building
DeLeon ISD Superintendent Dr. Randy
Mohundro and Board of Trustees members Lisa Nowlin and Larry Don
Womack were present at the Hospital Board meeting.
Dr. Mohundro said that the school
district is trying to establish a new program that will require some
additional space and that the old hospital and clinic facilities are
the best facilities alternative readily available.
Dr. Mohundro said that the DISD was
seeking the outright purchase of the property. Alternatively, if there
were problems with a property sale, a long-term 99 year lease could
work. He added that if the Hospital Board was interested in pursuing
the matter that work could begin immediately in determining an
appropriate purchase price and ironing out the details of the
transaction. He noted that the property had been sitting vacant for
the better part of two years and that it would be better for the
community if it were to be occupied and maintained.
Dr. Mohundro stated that time is already
critical in that the next school year begins in around 90 days and he
hopes to be holding some classes in the old hospital facility at the
start of the school year. He added that since the facility has zoned
air conditioning, that portions of it can be used without cooling the
entire facility. He said that the district would be investing money
into the property over a period of time to maintain and remodel it to
make it useable for their purposes.
Mohundro added that a fair purchase price
was needed in order that the Hospital District could say that they
didn't just give the property away and that the School District could
say that it didn't pay an enormous price for a property that has been
sitting there unused. He added that any price negotiated would be
subject to the approval of the full DISD Board of Trustees.
In response to a question from Joe Locke,
Dr. Mohundro said the initial educational program would be a "credit
recovery" program and an alternative school. He said that the credit
recovery program was designed to assist students who had changed life
circumstances or had not been as successful as the usual student in
earning credits toward graduation. It would be an accelerated
educational program where students can attend classes for around four
hours per day on a flexible schedule and still progress toward earning
a high school diploma with the minimum credits specified by the state.
"We have some students, that if we don't
do something, they're not going to graduate, ever. We're trying to put
them in an accelerated program so they can begin to earn credits
rapidly, and get them out," Mohundro stated. He later added, "We've
got to do some creative things to meet their needs," and then noted
that items such as child care services could also be provided.
Dr. Mohundro added that the relocation of
the DISD's administrative offices and the offices of the Special
Services Coop to the clinic building was also contemplated as a longer
term part of the plan. He noted that the tax office that jointly
serves the school and the city could also be moved somewhere into the
complex.
Dr. Mohundro said that he also planned to
work with the Region 14 Educational Service Center to entice them into
DeLeon with free rent to relocate some of their satellite office
operations, for which they currently pay rent. He said that the
hospital building had more space available where the ESC could easily
conduct offsite cluster training in DeLeon for teachers throughout the
region.
"We have several ideas for what we would
like to do. It's going to be a long term project. It's not something I
will be able to do in 90 days, six months, or even a year," Mohundro
added. "But, eventually, we feel it will be a really good regional
educational facility for Comanche County." He said that many types of
educational related meetings could be held here because facilities
that could house large meetings outside of school facilities were rare
in the region. He mentioned U.I.L. meetings as another possible use
for the facility.
Gale Easley responded that given the time
considerations and the Board meeting schedule, appointing a
subcommittee to work on the matter might be the most appropriate means
of expediting things.
A question was posed as to the book value
of the old hospital. Interim Chief Financial Officer Jim Gardner
responded that the net book value at the time of consolidation was
around $480,000, but that that value was not of any particular
relevance to the facility's current market value. He noted that
comparable values would be needed.
Billy Ray Evans said that an independent
appraisal was needed and others agreed. He also added, "We're going to
make this thing work."
Gale Easley then appointed Charles
Mazurek, Joe Locke and Billy Ray Evans to a special committee to work
with the school district to investigate the sale of the property.
Lisa Nowlin spoke regarding the need for
the credit recovery educational program, noting that it would serve
those who needed it for many differing reasons, and that it would help
prevent the loss of students to other school districts or area charter
schools.
Gale Easley agreed that the Hospital
District would like to see the facility put to a good use and to
realize some proceeds from its sale. She added that this prospect was
not potential competition as had been an earlier purchase proposal.
Dr. Mohundro asked for some idea
regarding the value the Hospital Board placed on the property, adding
that if it were several hundred thousands, that it would not be
feasible for the School District.
Responses from Hospital Board members
indicated that the value would not be at all in that range. Gale
Easley said, "I'd say 10% of that book value, somewhere in that
vicinity."
After further discussion, it was agreed
that the two administrators would serve as the primary points of
contact between the two districts in working to arrange for the
transfer of the property.
Other Business
The Board then discussed Dr. Alphonso
Pino's retirement and appropriate means of honoring him for his long
service to the community.
Gale Easley named the Hospital Board's
standing subcommittees. The Executive Committee includes the Board's
officers, president Gale Easley, vice president Joe Locke and
secretary Karen Carr. The Finance Committee includes Karen Carr and
Charles Mazurek. The Quality Assurance Committee includes Joe Locke
and Janna Morris. The Building and Grounds Committee includes Billy
Ray Evans and Janna Morris.
The Board's next regularly scheduled
meeting will be held on June 26. |
