DAYTON–The Columbia County Health System Board (CCHS) heard updates on the progress being made on the various projects underway at the meeting October 27.

The current projects underway are making progress. Foundations were poured for the Assisted Living units and stem walls are going up. The electrical panels for the medical air arrived and will be installed and ready for use once certified. Concrete pads have been poured and are awaiting the generator and fuel tank to provide emergency power support.

Currently, there are eight people on the waiting list for assisted living once complete. The initial project had approval for construction of three units with five planned over the long term. Because of the demand, McGuire requested they move forward with the fourth unit while construction is underway and asked the Board approve four leases with the developer instead of three. The Board approved unanimously the lease agreements with the developer for four units.

Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire reported that revenues continue to be strong with September total revenues at $2.9 million which is nearly $78,000 over budget.

Patient services were reported to be high with acute care patient days up 110% from the monthly average with admissions up 55%. Visits to the Emergency Room were also up over 20% of last year's numbers and is projected to hit an eight year high by the end of the year. Both clinics saw the highest number of patients in several years in September.

McGuire also indicated in his report that "budgetary pressures on expenses" continue because of recruiting, salaries, supplies and purchased services. Additional governmental funding opportunities continue to be made available including those through the American Rescue Plan Act that are being pursued.

CCHS continues to support efforts for a childcare center for the community and is currently seeking grants are working with the YWCA in Walla Walla and a grant writer. Besides securing funding, determining the location is also a main focus at this time.

Chief of Staff, Dr. Kyle Terry told the Board that with the COVID-19 cases declining in the County, they are loosening the visitation limitations starting November 1 to allow one designated visitor per patient per stay in addition to any person in charge of care planning, ministers and clergy. For those receiving comfort care or end of life care, they can receive more visitors at the approval of the physician.

An employee health and wellness nurse position has been created as a resource for staff and was filled by Kimberly Lake who was introduced to the Board. McGuire said this has become a critical need because of COVID-19 which includes managing the protection of exempted employees. "There's no way to adequately protect our staff in the time of COVID without having someone dedicated to that. Initially, it was other duties as assigned to our infection preventionist and nobody could keep up with the amount of work needed. In addition to that, helping with booster shots, helping with flu shots, employee flu shots, the community flu clinics. She's really been supporting a lot of what we have been doing, not only for our employees but for our operation, as well with some of these vaccination clinics. I can definitely say with 239 employees, we have outgrown the ability to assign this as a task to somebody else to do. There are now too many policies, procedures–there's a missed opportunity to be reactionary to everything. We've started a walk program here. It's called 'Come Walk with Me.' It gets employees out of their desks to walk around briefly during scheduled breaks, and that's a wellness activity. It's not reactionary to someone being sick. It's how we can be preventative even within our own staff," said McGuire.

In addition, Lake has taken over some of the duties of Human Resources including worker's compensation claims overseeing cause analysis of injuries and illnesses on the job.

McGuire is requesting input from staff for ideas to contribute to developing a fresh mission, values and leadership philosophy. He will present a draft to the Board for feedback and approval at the December meeting. A budget hearing is scheduled for November 11 at 3 p.m., by Zoom.