News
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met Tuesday evening for their regular meeting. Hospital Controller Becky Cunningham stated that inpatient admissions, the inpatient census days and emergency room visits were below budget, while some expenses were more than expected that led to a loss from operations of $83,803 for the month of November. After the tax revenues, there was an excess of expenses over revenues of $80,911. She said that cash decreased for the month by $379,616, leaving an ending cash balance for November of 2.9 million dollars. Days in account receivables rose in November to 47 days from 44, but were down six days from last November. During the month, there were 66 acute patients admitted with an average of 6.2 patients per day. In November, there were 766 emergency room visits with the average turnaround time of 114 minutes. There were 174 ambulance runs with 173 patients being assessed, 34 surgery cases, 147 home health visits, 7,478 lab tests, 868 radiological procedures, 139 CT scans, 29 MRI scans, 14 nuclear med scans, 1,667 cardiopulmonary procedures, 503 rehab treatments, 202 dialysis treatments and 307 clinical visits. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor indicated that the hospital has not yet received the reimbursement for the Electronic Medical Conversion Phase 1 completion and attestation, and hopes to have the money this month, but it could come in early January. Director of Nursing Carol Lacy left a report on the confirmed cases of influenza at the hospital and there were five cases here in Salem after Thanksgiving. The normal peak time for influenza in Salem is usually late January to early March. Pryor said that the work continues on the lagoon as the tanks and concrete are in, and work on the lines is still being done. Assistant Administrator Casey Lucas said that work continues with the Allscripts and CPSI interface, and that Kathy Weldon from the lab will be speaking at three CPSI “Best Practices” regional meetings concerning the new lab ID codes that total 60,000. Lucas also reported that the Master’s paper that Weldon wrote on influenza may be published in a national publication. Pryor stated that the Hospice Project planning meeting was held November 30th and they discussed rule changes and getting information together for costs and staffing. Pryor said that Carol Lacy, the project manager for the Community Health Needs Assessment, continues to gather data and is preparing a survey that will come out in January for public input. Election filing began Tuesday for the two hospital board seats up for election: District Six currently held by Joe Brand and District Four currently held by Ken Sheriff. The term for District four will be four years while the term for District six will be six years. Brand and Sheriff filed Tuesday morning for their respective districts. Filing can be done in the administrative offices from 8:00 to 4:00 Monday through Friday, except for Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day. In purchases, the board approved the budgeted purchase of a Fluke Network Tool for Information Systems to troubleshoot network issues for $13,889 from PC Connection, and purchased two ambulance Ford E-350 vans for EMS at $62,000 for a total of $124,000 from Osage Ambulance to replace old ambulances. The budget was for one diesel ambulance for $100,000, but the hospital decided to buy two gas ambulances as that is less expensive to repair and less costly to operate. The ambulances will be delivered in January and payment will not be made until delivery. The board approved renewing their Group Benefit Services Self-Funded Health plan for $1,310,305 and approved the renewal of $25,000 life and AD/D Insurance from GBS for $5,148. The board also approved offering employee voluntary benefits that include an additional life insurance option to employees to include their family, and long-term disability for the doctors as long as there is 20% participation prior to implementation. After approving the board meeting dates for the 2013 year, the board went into closed session.
An accident occurred at 8:30 Tuesday morning in Dent County on County Road 5680 about five miles west of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford Dump Truck driven by 55-year old Utah Warren of Salem was backing up and the load shifted, causing the vehicle to overturn. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by a private vehicle. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing of Salem.
An accident occurred at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 63 about three miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Oldsmobile driven by 53-year old Rebecca Varney of Edgar Springs ran off the road and struck a tree. Varney suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. She was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Oldsmobile sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Garage.
Sports [TOP]
The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers will host the Newburg Lady Wolves tonight starting at 6:00 with the JV contest with the varsity game to follow. You can hear the varsity game on KSMO Radio, ksmoradio.com and watch it on fidelitylocal6.com. Salem enters the game with a 2-4 record.
The St. Louis Cardinals traded utility infielder Skip Schumaker to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league shortstop Jake Lemmerman. Schumaker has a career .288 average with 23 home runs and 211 RBI. He has played 412 games at second base and 389 games at various outfield spots. Lemmerman, 23, hit .233 with seven homers and 46 RBI in 116 games for Double-A Chattanooga last year.
Obituaries [TOP]
Graveside services for Oren Barr of Salem, age 77, will be held at noon today at the Burnett Cemetery in Bunker. All arrangements are under the direction of the McSpadden Funeral Home of Bunker.
Memorial services for Karla Cummings of Salem, age 24, will be held tonight at 6:00 at the New Harmony Church in Salem. Visitation will be held from 4:30 until service time. Memorials may be made to the memorial fund for her daughter, Shealynn Ayers. All arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.
Funeral services for Matthew Ray Lee of Viburnum, age 31, will be held tonight at 6:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Viburnum. Visitation will be from 4:00 until service time. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the family.
Memorial services for Gerald (Jerry) Randell of Salem, age 75, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Memorial services for Earl Arthur Douglas of Deltona, Florida, formerly of Salem, age 95, will be held Saturday at the Salem Christian Church at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Green Forest Cemetery.
Funeral services for Melvin William Garner of Rolla, age 79, will be held Saturday at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla at 2:00, with a Masonic Service. Visitation will be from 12:00 until service time. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, Rolla Lions Club or South Central Shrine Club for Children’s Hospital.
Memorial services for Josephine A. McAllister of Salem, age 88, will be held Sunday at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem at 2:00.
Funeral services for George W. Jackson of Peoria, Illinois, formerly of Rolla, age 84, will be held Monday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Upper Davis Cemetery.
Weather [TOP]
