News
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held their monthly meeting Tuesday evening in the hospital library. During the Summary of Operations for the month of January, 77 patients were admitted. The summary showed that even though impatient and outpatient revenue were below budget, there was a gain from operations of $59,559, and an excess of revenues over expenses for January of $410,404. The cash flow statement showed an increase in cash of $386,904. The days in accounts receivable held steady at 44, the same as for December. There were 77 acute care patients admitted with an average of 8.4 patients per day. In the Director of Nursing report for the month of January, there were 883 emergency room visits with 59 transfers. The average turn around time in the ER was 128 minutes. There were a total of 207 ambulance runs with 199 patients assessed, 26 surgery cases, 1,865 outpatient registrations, 120 Home Health visits, 9,706 lab tests, 1,005 radiology procedures, 159 CT scans, 20 MRI scans, 15 Nuclear Med scans, 2,146 cardiopulmonary procedures, 540 rehab treatments, 206 dialysis treatments, and 332 clinical visits. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor reported that the Hospital Auxiliary would be holding fundraisers. The first will be “Scrubs and Beyond” on March 21st in the hospital library, and the second will be the jewelry sale on April 18th and 19th at the Dent County Fire Station. Pryor then updated the Board on the Medicaid Reform in Missouri. Pryor explained in detail how Medicaid Expansion would affect the different groups of people and costs that will be involved, as well as it’s impact on the Salem Hospital. In the construction update it was noted that the Lagoon project is to be completed with state certification by March 4th. It was noted that a total of 369 people did participate in the Health Screening held this month. Director of Nursing Carol Lacy reported that as of February 19th a total of 114 Community Health Needs Assessment surveys had been submitted and the goal to reach is 300. The Community Health Needs Assessment surveys are available at local businesses, churches, civic organizations as well as online at the hospital website at www.smdh.net where you can click on the link to complete. The next Finance Committee meeting will be held Monday, February 25th at 6:00 pm. Lacy then reported on the state survey for Long Term Care, which was retested and passed with glowing approval, after having not passed due to documentation not having been up to date. No harm was caused to any patients, but corrections in training and policies resulted from the review. The Board then approved the budgeted purchase of a replacement dialysis machine for $25,600 from Fresenius USA, two laptops for Information Systems/Surgical Services from Dell for $1,967 and one Hemoglobin Analyzer for SMDH Family Healthcare from Cardinal Health for $785. They approved the non-budgeted purchase of a replacement dual recline sofa from South-Town Furniture for $929 and a replacement Geriatric Recliner for Long Term Care from MMS for $624. The Board also approved donating two infant bassinets to the Lincoln University Nursing Program. The Board then voted to go into closed session and the meeting was then adjourned.
Due to a potentially hazardous weather forecast the Extension Council Banquet for tonight has been cancelled. A new date has been set for Thursday, March 14 at the Salem Senior Center on McGrath Lane.
The workshop entitled “Growing Profits for Missouri’s Wood Industries,” sponsored by the Missouri Forest Products Association that was scheduled at the Salem TCRC tonight has been postponed due to the expectation of bad weather and rescheduled for Tuesday, February 26th. For more information, call Rick Prugh at 573-308-7581.
An accident occurred at 10:00 Wednesday morning in Crawford County on Highway 49 about a quarter of a mile from Highway 19 in Cherryville. According to the highway patrol report, 42-year old Rita Eaton of Salem was driving a 2011 Ford Ranger east and attempted to make a left turn into a driveway. The front of the Ford Ranger struck the left front portion of a 2004 Ford Taurus driven west by 40-year old Leslie Martin of Cherryville. Martin suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. Eaton suffered minor injuries but sought her own treatment. Neither were wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The Ford Ranger was removed from the scene by private means while the Ford Taurus was removed by Miles Towing of Steelville.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital is conducting a federally mandated survey to determine if our community’s health needs are being met, and if not, why. Surveys are available at the hospital, various employers, churches and civic organizations around town. You may also go the hospital website at www.smdh.net and click on the Community Needs Assessment link to complete the survey on-line. The deadline to submit a survey is March 10th. Survey results will be released to the public along with a plan to address the needs identified through the survey. Your input is essential to the success of this process. For questions, contact Director of Nursing Carol Lacy at 729-6626.
Sports [TOP]
The Bunker Lady Eagle basketball team beat South Iron, 37-32, on Wednesday to win the Class 1, District 3 Championship. Bunker will play the winner of the Chadwick and Verona game on Tuesday night at 7:45 at Cabool High School in the Regional Game.
The Salem Tiger Baseball team will play Mattoon, Illinois at Busch Stadium on Sunday, June 2nd after the Cardinals/Giants game. Ticket prices are $25.00 and include the Cards/Giants game that begins at 1:15pm and then the Salem Tiger game. Tickets can be purchased at the Salem TCRC, located in the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. For more info, please call 729-8163.
David Jones scored the game winner with 16.4 seconds left in overtime to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. Jaroslav Halak saved 19-of-20 shots for the Blues, who will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Obituaries [TOP]
Lanny Raymond “Bear” Watson of Salem, age 58, will have no visitation or funeral services. Per Lanny’s request, his body will be cremated and there will be no memorial service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.
Funeral services for Irene Hencock of St. James, age 88, will be held Saturday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Chapel in St. James. Visitation will be held from 10:00 Saturday morning until service time. Interment will be in the Hancock Family Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Phelps County Hospice.
Funeral services for Stan Kaffer of Salem, age 57, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Green Forest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Green Forest Cemetery.
Funeral services for Neoma Ruth Phillips of Salem, age 68, will be held Monday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be held from 11:00 in the morning until sevice time on Monday. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Weather [TOP]
