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The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors monthly meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Controller Stephanie Wofford stated that for the month of January there was a loss from operations of $41,578 and so far year-to-date, expenses exceed revenues by $621,003. However for the month after tax receipts, there was an excess of revenues over expenses of  $298,834. Carol Lacy gave the Director of Nursing report for January and there were 68 acute care patients admitted, 826 emergency room visits for the month, 194 ambulance runs, 28 surgery cases, 172 home health visits, 8,501 lab tests, 1,015 radiological procedures, 164 CT scans, 16 MRI scans, 18 nuclear med scans, 434 rehab treatments, 2,082 cardiopulmonary procedures, 206 dialysis treatments and 337 clinical visits. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor updated the Board on the Auxiliary meeting held February 7th that has 19 members in attendance. Pryor reported that they discussed their fundraisers for 2012 and reviewed project ideas. He then updated the Board on legislative issues such as Congress having reached an agreement to prevent a 27.4% cut to Medicare physician payments for the remainder of the year, but hospitals will pay for the fix that includes a reduction of Medicare benefit payments from 100% to 65% over 3-years beginning in 2013, which would be a cut of $21,000 a year for the Salem Hospital, and reductions to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments in 2021. The fix would extend the Social Security payroll tax reduction and emergency unemployment insurance benefits through the end of this year. On the state side of legislative issues, the state talked about taking $33 million dollars from the Medicaid Blind Fund. In the update on the damage to Physician’s Office Building One, the adjusters come out and took a look at the damage. Bills have been submitted that have been paid thus far and estimates have been submitted. In the construction updates, the patient waiting area remaining renovation depends on the completion of the Long Term Care expansion. All other projects have been completed. Pryor said that all hospitals recognized as a 502(c)(3), including governmental hospitals, would need to conduct and complete a Community Health Needs Assessment by June 30, 2014. The assessment will then need to be done every three years. The assessment consists of eight different steps. Hospitals will then be required to post the written report on the hospital's website or another appropriate website, as well as provide individuals with instructions on how they may download or receive a printed copy. In old business, Pryor updated the Board on the strategic planning goals update for 2011 including physician recruitment and retention. There was an update on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) with some training required in core measures. All the systems were working together sharing information except CPSI and Medhost where there are still some issues to be resolved. Pryor indicated that the Hospice project planning has been postponed until June 2012, and said there were a total of 341 participants for the General Health Screening in February. The next General Health Screening will take place on May 23rd and 24th. The Finance Committee will meet February 28th and will give their report at the meeting in March. The Board approved the budgeted purchases of two rolling stools for Rehab from ABS for $318; one Color LaserJet printer for the Administrative Secretary from SHI for $518; three monitors for Information Systems from CompUSA for $379; an Instrument Printer for the Laboratory from CompUSA for $307; and a 3-ton cooling unit with air return ducts for Medical Records from Victor Heating and Cooling for $21,000. They also approved a non-budgeted item, two stretcher mattresses for the Emergency Department from Stryker Medical for $876. Pryor then told the Board that a mailbox has been setup at the Hospital where they have been receiving quite a bit of mail and checks in that box. The hospital will still maintain their post office box as well as the mailbox in the front of the hospital. The Board then voted to go into closed session.

The Salem Area Arts Council will again bring to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center the “Arts across the Ages Art Show” from March 6^th to March 31^st. The Arts Council is seeking to involve the public, educating them in local arts and artists, helping to bring cultural activities to the community. The “Arts Across the Ages Art Show” will include works from area students and adults. The Artwork this year will be put up starting today at 5:00 pm until Friday, March 2^nd. The Arts Council will then do the finishing touches on Saturday, March 3^rd. The “Art Across the Ages Art Show” will be open to the public. For more information call Pat at 729-0029 or Gary at 247-8568.

The first of the two Missouri Show-Me Quality Assurance meetings will be held tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem City Hall. It is mandatory for all 4-H/FFA livestock members planning to exhibit any animal at the 2012 Expo to attend this meeting or the meeting to be held February 28^th at the same place and time. This includes small animal projects. If a livestock member cannot attend either of these two meetings, they must contact the Extension office at 729-3196 for dates and locations of meetings available in other counties.

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