Booker or Assisted Living facility: patient-care levels vary
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DAYTON–The Assisted Living construction is well under way, and the Hospital Board discussed the future of Booker Rest Home at its recent meeting.
The changing of assignments to assisted living and medical needs will determine where and how patients are placed in coming years. Most current Booker Rest Home residents don't qualify for skilled nursing care and only about six to seven will remain in Booker, Hospital District CEO Shane McGuire said. The rest will be eligible for the assisted living facility.
McGuire went on to explain that CCHS is licensed in at least four different capacities. It is licensed for clinical nurse specialist services, which is 25 beds for critical access. It is licensed by the State of Washington at 42 beds for hospital and Booker beds, Booker Hall One hospital beds, and with Booker Hall Two providing licensed skilled nursing.
The Booker skilled nursing care will remain for those who need it, McGuire said. Those in assisted living will utilize Booker as needed, but then can transition back to assisted living as appropriate.
Upgrades are being pursued to the acute care of Booker Hall One, including the construction of the hall connecting the hospital's acute care to Booker Hall One acute care, and adding oxygen, suction and critical power to the rooms. The Pyxis medication dispensing system was also just added to the hall.
The financial report for Columbia County Health System in February reflected a loss of $164,000. Last month also reported a loss of $131,000. However, according to McGuire, this total loss is about the same as last year at this time. CFO Matt Minor said the loss will be made mostly whole once they receive Medicare payments. McGuire highlighted the number of procedures done in rehab which is up from 3,400 the month prior to over 4,900 last month.
McGuire updated the Board about the outcomes of the recent legislative session. HB 1868 and SB 5751 never made it out of committee. The bills would have mandated patient-staff ratios. It is expected it will be brought back next session. SHB 1616 passed concerning the Charity Care Act, but the Washington State Hospital Association created tiers of expectations for the different level hospitals so it would not be overly burdensome.
