Your World Today - Thursday, April 24, 2014

Jump to: SportsObituariesWeather

News

Scroll Down for Sports, Weather and Obituaries!

For State-Wide News, go to the MissouriNet!

To read previous editions of Your World Today please visit our Archives Page.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the hospital library. In the summary of operations, Controller Becky Cunningham reported March was another good month for the hospital with a gain from operations of $8,387 and an excess of revenues over expenses after taxes of  $41,754. Inpatient admissions near budget and outpatient revenues were above budget that created the increase in income. For the year, the hospital is showing a loss from operations of $354,553 with an excess of revenues over expenses after tax revenues of $127,396. Cash increased during March by $324,352 as days in accounts receivable remained at 51 days, the same as in February. Director of Nursing Carol Lacy reported during the month there were 829 emergency room visits with an average turnaround time of 126 minutes. Also during the month, there were 196 ambulance runs with 193 patients being assessed and 152 patients transported to the hospital, 20 surgery cases, 1,976 outpatient registrations, 174 home health visits, 10,656 lab tests, 1,067 radiological procedures, 210 CT scans, 14 MRI scans, 16 nuclear med scans, 390 rehab treatments, 192 dialysis treatments and 316 clinical visits of which 49 were for cardiology. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor stated the Hospital Auxiliary had 12 members at their April meeting and discussed a number of fundraisers the rest of the year. In the Call Light Report, the average response time January through March was a 1:35 with staff present for an average of 4 hours and 35 minutes every day. Pryor discussed Medical Malpractice Reform as it passed in the Senate while the House has their own version.  He said the Governor wants to add a cost of living adjustment to the bill, but that does not bode well in the legislature. The legislature has still been reluctant to move forward with Medicaid Expansion and that is now costing the hospital federal money. Assistant Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas indicated the CPSI’s Physician Documentation is going through their education week before going live next week. He said the ICD-10 code implementation has been delayed another year until October of 2015. Lucas also stated the hospital filed an extension to meet the MU Stage 1 Physician Attestation due to a problem with the Allscripts website. The hospital received 138 responses to their Emergency Room Satisfaction survey for the January through March quarter with high marks in all categories, while they received 34 Inpatient satisfaction survey results again with high marks in all categories. In the SMDH Rural Health Clinics Patient Satisfaction Survey, 331 responses were received and the results were excellent. Joe Brand reported the SMDH Foundation committee met on Tuesday and approved the new brochure and discussed fundraisers including a dinner in September of this year and a 5k run next April at Montauk State Park. They will also be giving four $500 scholarships to graduating seniors this year. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor reported Tiffany Bland of Bunker has signed a contract with the hospital to attend college to get her M.D. and then be employed at the hospital beginning in 2021. She will receive a $30,000 year stipend toward her tuition. The hospital purchased an Optiplex 7010 desktop computer to replace Dr. Bajwa’s Windows XP system for $1,320 from IT Outlet. The board approved this budgeted purchase as well as the purchase of three Optiplex 3020 Desktop Computers from SHI for a total of $1,854. Administrator Pryor discussed with the board the Ozark Independent Health Alliance that is a collaborative agreement that includes the Salem Hospital as well as the Texas County Memorial Hospital, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, the Ozark Medical Center in West Plains and St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield. The proposed 1st year projects include sharing professional resources such as physicians, create a human resource pool that would serve all the hospitals, negotiate better insurance rates, use grant writing services and create a Telehealth system that would be contingent on grant money. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Police Department has released their reports. On Thursday, April, 10th at 5:43 in the evening, an officer received a report that a 35-year old Salem male had swindled several residents by performing odd jobs at residences and charging exuberant prices while not completing the work that was agreed upon. It was reported by several residents of the scam totaling more than $1,000 for each victim. The investigation led to his arrest for financial exploitation of the elderly and disabled. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. The Salem Police Department encourages everyone to check references before hiring out handy work. If you have questions regarding licensing or credibility of someone performing services for you, the elderly or disabled it is advised to contact the Salem Police Department or City Administration. On Friday, April 11th at 9:57 in the evening, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 100 block of North Water in reference to a peace disturbance. That investigation led to the arrest of a 42-year old Salem male for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. He was issued summonses to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding these reports.

The Harlem Ambassadors will be in Salem Friday, April 25th, for one night only to face Salem’s very own local challengers, the Salem Ball Stoppers, in a comedy basketball show the whole family can enjoy. It all starts at 7:00 Friday night at the SHS Gym. The Ambassadors offer a unique brand of Harlem-style basketball featuring high flying slam dunks, ball handling tricks, comedic routines, music, dancing and games for the kids. The event is perfect for the entire family that parents, grandparents and children can enjoy together and create memories that last forever. Tickets are on sale for this event at both of Bank of Salem locations, Progressive Ozark Bank, both locations of Town and Country Bank, the Salem High School Attendance Office, the Salem Chamber of Commerce office, the Salem News and US Bank for $7.00 each. Tickets will be available at the door for $9.00. You can also purchase 10 tickets and get the 11th ticket free for $70. Children four years of age and under are admitted free. The Salem Ball Stoppers consists of Jordan Davis, Wes Hampton, Matt Sirois, Drew Hair, Joe Bozic, Robbie Ellerman, Allison Lewis, Brad Lewis, Matt Bellue, Melissa DuBois, Scott Roberts, Doug Walter, Rick Stallings, Andrew Wynn, Michael Jones, Taylor Sirois, Ryan Chilton, Cody Foster, Aaron Loker, and CJ Smith. This event is brought to you by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call the chamber at 729-6900, drop by 200 South Main Street or go online at www.salemmo.com.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Tiger baseball team will host Thayer at 4:30 today in SCA action. Salem is 3-9 on the year and 1-3 in the SCA. You can hear the game on KSMO and online at ksmoradio.com. The game can also be seen on fidelitylocal6.com.

The Salem Tiger tennis team placed 3rd at the West Plains Invitational on Wednesday. The Tigers are now 3-2 on the year and will be in Waynesville this afternoon at 4:00. The Salem track team will be in Mt. Grove this afternoon at 3:00 for the Mt. Grove Relays.

Patrick Kane's goal with 8:43 left in overtime sent the Chicago Blackhawks all square in their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the St. Louis Blues, giving the defending Stanley Cup champs a thrilling and critical 4-3 Game 4 victory at United Center. Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Blues in a losing cause. Game five will be held Friday night.

St. Louis pitcher Michael Wacha recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts over four innings, but he also issued five walks, two of them with the bases loaded, in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday. Yadier Molina finished 3 for 3 with an RBI for the Cardinals, who will play the Mets again today at noon.

Jason Kipnis doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians held off the Kansas City Royals, 5-3. Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas homered for the Royals, who saw starter Jason Vargas allow six hits and three runs in six innings. The Royals and Indians play again today at 11:05.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Dennis Lee Simpson Sr. of Cherryville, age 64, will be held today at 2:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Interment will be in the Martin-Trask Cemetery in Cherryville.

Weather   [TOP]

Today..Mostly cloudy with a with a 70% chance of showers, high of 69.
Tonight..Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers, low of 47.
Friday..Mostly sunny, high of 75.
Friday night..Mostly clear, low of 49.
Saturday..Mostly sunny, high of 75.
Saturday night..Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers, low of 58.