The Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 31st in the Alliance Room at BBGH. The month’s agenda included annual HIPAA education for the trustees. The consent calendar, December financial report and credentialing requests were all approved as presented.
Quality and Safety updates included the current state of COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and outpatient therapy. Chief Quality Officer Mary Mockerman shared that COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are currently the sought appointments at the clinic regarding the vaccine. The Moderna vaccines are being administered. All three doses of vaccine remain cost-free to patients. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 was first discussed at BBGH in November. The latest update on the Omicron variant is it is roughly 90% of cases across the state. For high risk patients experiencing symptoms that are manageable at home, outpatient therapy may be available through their treating medical provider. Testing supplies for COVID-19 are sparse due to the increase in demand. At-home tests are available through the Panhandle Public Health District. Visit www.pphd.org for more information.
The trustees heard about Nebraska legislative bill introductions at the Nebraska Unicameral impacting healthcare. CEO Lori Mazanec explained the Nebraska Hospital Association’s push for addressing the nursing workforce shortage. According to the Nebraska Center for Nursing, Nebraska will experience a workforce shortage of 5,435 nurses by the year 2025. Multiple Legislative Bills requesting appropriations from the American Rescue Act Plan with a focus on healthcare recruitment, retention, scholarships, and further programming are part of the 60-day session running through April 20, 2022
CEO Lori Mazanec shared the patient satisfaction survey from quarter four of 2021. The survey results were not typical compared to previous surveys, but the state of current temporary restrictions is taken into effect. In February, the newly formed Patient Advisory Council will assemble. Community members will serve on the council to provide BBGH with the community’s perspective and offer feedback on what matters most and overall patient experience.
In new business, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted for BBGH to offer academic scholarships for graduating high school seniors interested in a healthcare field for the 2022 – 2023 school year. The Box Butte Health Foundation Board of Directors similarly approved scholarships held at their January meeting for current college students enrolled in healthcare programs. Applications will open sometime in February and will be available online at www.bbgh.org.
New BBGH employees include: Katherine Conrad, Wellness Center Attendant, Derek Flood, Rehab Aide/Activities Coordinator, Amber Jacobs, Patient Registration Clerk, Erika Peterson, Nurse Aide/Ward Clerk, Skyler Knigge, EVS Tech, Kristin Ferguson, APRN-C, staff nurse, Peggy Hinman, Wellbeing Coach, Nicole Jensen, Nurse Aide/Ward Clerk, Bhusan Thapaliya, pharmacist, and Megan McLaughlin, LPN, staff nurse. Also recognized was January Employee of the Month Kim Morrow, Controller.
The next BBGH regular board meeting is Monday, February 28th at noon in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend.
