DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System rescheduled the March meeting to April 6 to review reports for February. A financial loss was reported of $268,000. Project updates were given for the childcare project and for Rivers Walk Assisted Living. The Board also heard from Clinic Director Kim Emery regarding quality control.

A $268,000 net loss reported by CFO Matt Minor for February, with expenditures nearly $400,000 over budget mainly attributable to contract labor costs of purchased services. The net patient revenue was also more than budgeted by $220,000. CEO Shane McGuire added in his report that they are continuing to improve their revenue cycle from date of service, billing, collection through insurance verification and prior authorizations, which will also reduce the number of denials from payers. They anticipate a stronger financial report for March partly due to higher accounts receivables.

The childcare project has been permitted by the City/County Planning office and approved for USDA grant funding. Once the approval confirmation is received project construction will go out for bid. Construction was anticipated to start at the beginning of last month with a grand opening for just after Labor Day. The Grand Opening is now scheduled for October. The operator for the childcare center is reviewing the final draft agreement and has also applied for grant funding.

Jaylee Lippert was hired as the new Assisted Living Administrator in March. Four additional residents are scheduled to take up residence in Cottage A this month. Cottage D will open when enough staff is recruited. There was a surge of COVID-19 in Cottage C which was well contained to only that unit.

Professional Background Screening and its affiliated association PBSA was discussed as part of quality improvement. PBSA works to provide safe environments through protecting the rights of consumers, promoting safe homes and workplaces, helping employers and property managers comply with state and federal screening regulations, helping public and private employers make informed placement decisions and providing risk mitigation tools for employers and property managers. As the name of the company suggests, it is also to provide background checks for employment or housing.

Clinic Director Kim Emery told the Board that quality improvement is the aim to providing the best care for the community. They are refining it to determine quality through measuring specific segments. Emery provided examples to the Board which included following up with radiology and patients, for when tests are ordered. Previously, 12% of the time, providers had to request the test report. Now, it has fallen to 5%. As for following up with patients, after tests were ordered, patients called for results 18% of the time. Now, because patients are being called first, it has fallen to 4%.

One area she said they are currently working to improve is documenting conversations with patients which she reported is being done 14% of the time. She will be reporting back to the Board regularly with quality improvement information and data.

McGuire added they are also implementing process improvement initiatives with the help of department heads in regards to registration and collecting correct information for medical claims.