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The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors reviewed the 2012 fiscal year market assessment, operating budget and capital budget at their regular meeting held Monday night. The finance committee compiled the budgets with the help of Hospital Controller Stephanie Wofford and other department heads. The market assessment was based upon anticipated admissions from medical or surgical needs, special care and isolation. For 2012, it was projected that there would be a total of 696 medical and surgery admissions, and 84 swing bed admissions for a total of 780 admissions. A total of 36 beds for observation were also taken into consideration for the 2012 year. The Long Term Care unit occupancy rate remained flat at 17.6 persons. The length of stay based upon historical data showed that admission for a medical or surgical need was 3.7 days. If isolation is needed, that was projected to be a stay of five days, swing bed stays were estimated at nine days, while observation was figured to be a one day admission. The projected total census days for fiscal year 2012 is 3,378 plus another 6,424 censes days from Long-Term Care. Other patient volume projections included outpatient registrations at 20,400 and emergency room visits of 10,020. Other budget projections showed a salary increase of 4%, the retirement contribution of 4%, the increase in drug costs of 8% and the increase in the cost of supplies of 6%. This led to some small increase in the costs of a semi-private room to $460 from $440; $580 for a private room compared to $560 currently, an increase to $720 for a special care room from $690, and a raise in the swing bed cost from $245 to $255. The ancillary and outpatient services cost average 4% and the Long-Term Care unit costs went from $117 per day to $122 per day. Compiling all these numbers showed budgeted total patient revenue for fiscal year 2012 at $35,104,000 with net operating revenue of $18,142,000. After expenses, the hospital expects a gain from operations of $38,000 before taxes. In the capital purchase budget for fiscal year 2012, proposed purchase include a call light system for the Emergency Room for $25,000, an annual lease cost of $34,000 for telemetry for Acute Care, and $102,000 for a new box ambulance. For information systems, six CPSI Chartlink licenses will cost $19,300, four Acute Computer on Wheels will cost $20,000, a CPSI Linux Test Server will run $25,000 and CPSI Medical Administration software will cost $40,000. Other budgeted items will run about $142,900 leaving $16,800 for non-budgeted items from the taxes from fiscal year 2012 which are expected to come to a total of $425,000. After a short discussion, the hospital board then approved the market assessment, operating budget and capital budget for the 2012 fiscal year.

The first holiday weekend of the year will soon arrive. Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity for Missourians to enjoy the many recreational possibilities in this great state. Whether you will be visiting family, going to one of Missouri’s lakes, or enjoying other travel destinations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol urges everyone to think about safety when making plans for the upcoming holiday weekend. Holidays should be enjoyed, but enjoyed responsibly. Be aware of construction along your route, pay attention while you are driving, and buckle up. If alcohol is part of your holiday, make sure driving a vessel or vehicle is not. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available officer will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. In addition, the Patrol will assign troopers to 20-mile intervals along Interstates 35, 40, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 63 on Friday, May 27^thand Monday, May 30^th. Troopers taking part in this enforcement project will be alert for all traffic offenses, and be especially vigilant to aggressive driving behavior. Motorists in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol's Highway Emergency number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can call 1-800-222-6400 to hear about road construction areas throughout the state. Over the 2010 Memorial Day holiday weekend, six people died and 440 were injured in 1,010 traffic crashes. That is one person killed or injured every 10.5 minutes. Inattention, speeding, and failing to yield the right-of-way were the leading contributing factors to traffic crashes over the 2010 Memorial Day weekend. Motorists are encouraged to be safe and courteous drivers. This year's fatality counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6:00 pm, Friday, May 27^th, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Monday May 30^th. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, intoxicated drivers, and speeding.
Missouri is currently experiencing a 13 percent reduction in traffic deaths compared to the same time period last year. However, there are several holiday periods, and many vacation days, between now and the end of the year. Motorists are encouraged to practice safe driving habits to help continue this trend.

Numerous businesses and churches have set up collection points or drop off points if you want to help the people of Joplin. According to the American Red Cross, the thing needed the most will be money. The US Bank in Salem, which has branches in the area affected, is accepting donations of cash or checks. You can come in the bank or go through the drive-up facility.

Sports [TOP]

Daniel Descalso drove in the winning run for the second night in a row, lifting the Cardinals over the Padres, 3-2, in an 11-inning battle. Allen Craig walked to start the 11th and struck out the next two batters, though Craig managed to steal second to get into scoring position. Descalso grounded one up the middle that caromed off the glove of a diving Orlando Hudson at second. The ball trickled into the outfield, and Craig scored without a play at the plate. Eduardo Sanchez closed out St. Louis' fourth straight win with a perfect bottom half, picking up his fifth save of the year in the process. Miguel Batista (3-1) tossed two hitless innings in relief to earn the victory. Cardinal's starter Kyle McClellan worked seven innings, struck out four, gave up two hits and did not walk a batter. The Cards go for the sweep today at 5:00 on KSMO.

Adam Jones hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a dramatic 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Alex Gordon had two hits for Kansas City, including a solo homer in the third inning, while Joakim Soria (3-1) blew his third save of the year to extend the Royals' losing streak to three games. Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur also had two hits for Kansas City. The two teams will match up again tonight.

Obituaries   [TOP]