Houston, MO— The numbers are a concern and they are headed in the wrong direction, Texas County Memorial Hospital board members heard from Wes Murray, chief executive officer, during their monthly meeting on Tuesday. The increase in positive COVID cases, the same topic echoed just a month ago during the September board meeting, is now an even heavier concern for leadership and providers at the county hospital.
Last week the hospital’s laboratory reported a 35 percent positivity rate of all COVID-19 tests performed, trailing just ahead of Texas County’s positivity rate of 29 percent.
According to the interactive dashboard produced by the Missouri Hospital Association, the positivity rate in the Southwest Region that includes TCMH, was 16.4 percent last week.
The average across the entire state of Missouri was 13.7 percent.
“Texas County has more than doubled the positivity rate of the entire state,” Murray said.
Murray added that data from all of the meetings he has attended recently reports that the fall-winter surge is just now starting and it is expected to get much worse.
Murray mentioned that it has also become increasingly difficult to transfer patients to larger facilities due to diminishing bed capacity in outlying facilities, making the growing need for additional beds a very high priority.
The COVID task force has been working continuously to make adjustments to the delivery of healthcare services each week as the number of positive cases and admissions at TCMH climbs.
“We have completed two departmental moves to expedite the completion of the isolation unit being built on the old East Wing,” Murray said.
Hospice of Care has joined Hutcheson Pharmacy and Home Health of the Ozarks in the building across the street from the hospital. The Cardiopulmonary Rehab Clinic has moved into the building located behind the hospital, where hospice was previously located and overnight sleep studies are performed.
Murray explained that several items ordered, thanks to the hospital’s receipt of CARES Act funds are currently being installed in the isolation unit. Many of the items needed for the unit have been ordered, but have not yet arrived.
Although TCMH is seeing a surge in admissions, personal protective equipment and medication supply is remaining steady.
Many people have taken the public education seriously this year regarding the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu. As a result of the increased demand, flu vaccine supply has taken a hit.
“Our hospital’s supply of flu vaccines was completely depleted on October 16, but as of today we now have 750 more vials thanks to efforts of our hard-working pharmacy team that jumped on our need and got us stocked back up,” Murray said.
Linda Pamperien, chief financial officer at TCMH, presented the financial report for the month of September.
“Overall revenues were down $576,207 from our budgeted expectations,” Pamperien said. “Inpatient volumes were up $205,731 and outpatient revenue was down $837,517.”
Pamperien reported that there were 41 more admissions for the month of September this year than in 2019.
Bad debt for the month of September was $616,410.61.
Pamperien reported that no additional federal CARES Act funds were booked for the month of September, as recommended by BKD, the hospital’s accounting firm.
TCMH ended the month of September with a positive bottom line of $216,689.55 and a year-to-date loss of $1,571,575.01.
During his administrative report, Murray mentioned that even though 2020 has had negative impacts for most, Jay Gentry, Healthcare Foundation director has been very successful throughout the year obtaining grants.
“Jay has been busy this year,” Murray said. “To date, the hospital has been awarded 11 grants totaling $399,959.”
Murray mentioned that outside of writing grant applications, Gentry has also been busy organizing the online auction to benefit TCMH Hospice of Care.
“The online auction is going on now and there are some great items available to bid on,” Murray said.
To view the complete list of auction items available, visit the auction website at www.biddingforgood/tcmh. The online auction will run through Sunday, November 8.
Karla Eslinger, 2020 Republican Candidate for Missouri State Senate, Missouri’s 33rd Senate District, was a guest during the October board meeting. Eslinger shared her interest in being a voice for rural Missouri hospitals and the growing need for healthcare coverage for all Missourians.
The board members expressed their sincere appreciation for her willingness to come and meet with them to discuss the importance of healthcare in rural Missouri.
Present at the meeting were Murray; Pamperien; Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing officer; Rachel Davis, public relations; Amanda Turpin, quality; Linda Milholen, MD; Renina Pierce, administration; board members, Jim Perry, OD; Omanez Fockler; Jay Loveland; Allan Branstetter; Steve Pierce and guest, Eslinger.
The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, November 24 at 12 p.m. Due to current social distancing restrictions in place as a result of COVID-19, the meeting will take place via teleconference. To attend the meeting, please call (417) 967-1236 and you will be placed into the teleconference meeting.
