DAYTON-The Board of Directors for the Columbia County Health System met on January 26 and discussed the end of year financial report, staffing shortages, project updates and response to public complaints. The five-year Strategic Plan was adopted and a contact for clinic services with Walla Walla University in College Place was authorized.

A pre-audit financial report for 2021 was provided by CFO Matt Minor to the Board reflecting a gross revenue within .4% of the budget and expenses of 6.5% over budget due mainly to professional fees and purchased services, as well as salaries and supplies also contributing to the overage. Minor said the COVID relief funding contributed significantly to finishing the year with revenue within budget.

CEO Shane McGuire said they plan to innovate to overcome increased costs and to resource for more affordable options. One-time sign-on or retention bonuses were given for incentives that would not be a repeat cost.

However, CCHS is impacted by the widespread staffing shortage and is looking to fill many positions. To attract candidates, they have to offer competitive pay to compensate for providing a weaker medical benefits package, as well as provide housing for some traveling or commuting employees. McGuire reported that 50% of the nurses they have currently are from out of the area.

Also impacted by the staffing shortage is business operations. As COVID cases have climbed in the area, more staff have tested positive. As a result, the Waitsburg Clinic was closed on January 26 to pool resources to the Columbia Family Clinic.

Chief of Staff Dr. Lewis Neace reported they are having difficulty finding beds available to transfer patients to and have to hold them there longer than usual. Board Chair, Bob Hutchens questioned whether the Hospital District is hitting a crisis care situation. Neace replied that currently they are managing, but that could change quickly. McGuire added that any broad exposure to COVID-19 among staff would be the biggest contributor to moving into crisis status.

Clinic Director Kim Emery was present and provided a follow-up to some recent feedback received from a patient. One of the complaints was not getting through when calling the clinics and the clinic staff not returning calls. Emery said the clinics just switched to a new phone system. They recently lost one of the Internet Technology staff members due to the mandate so other staff had to implement the change and they are working out issues. Clinic Manager Melissa Nesje is following up with staff to make sure calls and voicemails are returned. Also, call volumes have been up due to COVID.

Another complaint was appointments being cancelled with short notice. Emery said when they are cancelled, they are limited on what they can tell patients, but it can be due to COVID exposure. Emery stated they take comments very seriously and they work to gather as much information as they can to address any issues. She told that Board, that it’s important “that you know how serious we take this, how seriously we take taking care of our patients, how much we want to take care of our community, and how we much like being part of our health system.”

COO Stephanie Carpenter provided updates on the Palliative Care Program. McGuire contributed to say that the goal of the program is address illness before a patient needs the services of the Emergency Room (ER). The program was part of the previous five-year Strategic Plan and is now well established. As a result, they have seen a 46% reduction in ER visits from those in the program.

Adopted by the Board was an updated five-year Strategic Plan. The Board convened earlier in the month to review it before approval.

Also approved was a contract with Walla Walla University in College Place to provide clinical services on campus that would also extend to the broader district. After the Adventist General Hospital closed, Providence operated the clinic and have since stopped providing services. The clinic is turn key, according to McGuire and would need two to three employees. Minor said that there is no risk or downside to this venture. The agreement is short-term to gauge whether the model works. Any staff or equipment there could be pulled to the Dayton or Waitsburg facilities, if needed.

The four Rivers Walk Assisted Living units have been named for area rivers and are Touchet, Patit, Palouse and Tucannon. When the possible fifth unit is built it has been discussed that it would also be named after a local river, said McGuire. The construction of the all units are well under way with framing and roofing going up.