Your World Today – Wednesday, November 18, 2015

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NEWS: Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The National Weather Service (NWS) along with the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP), and the State Fire Marshal, has designated today as Winter Weather Awareness Day. Winter storms and cold temperatures can be extremely dangerous. We urge people to use this day to review the hazards and safety rules of winter weather so they are prepared for the upcoming winter season. While the winter of 2014-12015 was not too bad across the state, many people likely still remember January 2014, which was a reminder of what winter can do in Missouri. Talk about the "polar vortex" was everywhere. January 6 - 7, 2014 brought some of the coldest temperatures we have seen in Missouri in many years. Lambert St. Louis International Airport fell to -8 on the 6th. That was the first time the temperature there had been below zero since 1999. How about these temperatures: Rosebud -26, Farmington -15, Hannibal -14, St. Charles -13, Fredericktown -12, Potosi -10 and Jefferson City -9.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus gave the summary of operations for October that showed inpatient admissions and outpatient registrations down for the month, but the hospital had a gain from operations of $23,102 mostly due to less contractual obligations that are a deduction from revenue. During the month, the cash flow statement showed a reduction in cash of $7,046. Chief Nursing Officer Mary Lou Brooks reported during the month there were 61 acute care admissions, 757 emergency room visits with an average turnaround time of 118 minutes. Also during the month, there were 161 ambulance runs with 156 patients being assessed and 117 patients transported to the hospital, 23 surgery cases, 1,606 outpatient registrations, 249 home health visits, 7,286 lab tests, 1,024 radiological procedures, 224 CT scans, 18 MRI scans, 13 nuclear med scans, 479 rehab treatments, 186 dialysis treatments and 280 clinical visits of which 130 were for podiatry. Dr. Higano brought in Dr. Michael Klein to introduce him to the medical staff. Klein has started working with Higano utilizing Telehealth. Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor stated the Hospital Auxiliary met this month with 7 members attending. Their next meeting will be December 1st at noon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The board reviewed the Emergency Department and Inpatient Satisfaction surveys for the 1st quarter of the new fiscal year. There were 134 Emergency Department Surveys received as well as 24 Inpatient Satisfaction surveys and they showed excellent reviews. The board also reviewed the SMDH Rural Health Clinic survey results from the 158 surveys received. All the categories were given outstanding ratings. Assistant Administrator Kasey Lucas gave the Electronic Medical Records report. Lucas said that right now all but one doctor is using the CPOE 5 system and it is working well. He said there were a few glitches with the MedHost version upgrade, but now the home medications and history can be reconciled instead of imported. Lucas said the hospital has met all the requirements for the Meaningful Use Stage 2, but he cannot apply for reimbursement until January of 2016 where the hospital hopes to receive back about $90,000. Chairman Joe Brand of the SMDH Foundation wanted to thank all those who participated in the 5K Fun Run/Walk at Montauk State Park on November 7th as they had 105 people register and raised $2,625 for the Jean B. Weaver Dialysis unit. At the SMDH Foundation Board meeting held Tuesday, Ruth Ann Parker was elected chairman, Karl Dittman was named as Vice-Chairman, Hershel Moser was voted in as Secretary and Leon Kreisler was named as Treasurer. The foundation is looking for two new members to replace two Foundation members who retired. Mary Lou Brooks reported on the Community Health Needs Assessment and the paper surveys are being printed now to put out at local businesses and churches. Brooks said people can take the survey by going to SMDH.net and clicking on the button there. The cutoff date for accepting surveys will be February 15th. The board will put off making any changes in the annual bylaw review that will be held in January. Pryor reported the old nuclear med machine will be out by November 30th with the new machine arriving December 3rd. The new nuclear med machine should be installed sometime between December 7th through the 10th. The December monthly board meeting will be held on December 15th at 5:00 at the hospital library. The election filing for District 3 currently held by Dennis Fiebelman begins on December 15th and will last until January 19th. The board then went into closed session.  

An accident occurred at 11:55 Tuesday morning in Phelps County on Dillon Outer Road about three miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Mercury Cougar driven by 20-year old Hunter Story of St. James was traveling westbound and traveled across the centerline. The Cougar then went off the left side of the roadway overturning several times before coming to rest. Story suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the St. James ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mercury Cougar was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

SPORTS   [TOP]

From the Salem High School Fall Sports Banquet held last week, Coach Ellie Howard gave out Volleyball awards. Breanna Piatt was named the team Offensive MVP, Mackenzie Pruitt was named the Defensive MVP, Bailey Martin was given the Most Improved Award, Londyn Cook was presented the Coach's Award, Madison Shaw was also given a Coach's Award and was presented with a Player's Award and Makayla Cahill was honored with a Player's Award.

James Farr matched his career high with 15 points as part of his double-double leading Xavier past Missouri, 78-66. The Tigers fall to 2-1 on the year.

Brandon Saad scored twice to help the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1, Tuesday night for Columbus’ first three-game winning streak of the season. Brian Eilliot finished with 35 stops. The Blues will play Buffalo Thursday in St. Louis at 7:00 and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.  

OBITUARIES     [TOP]

Funeral services for David Lee Shannon of Rolla, age 61, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Rolla City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Redeemer Lutheran Church of the Lions Club.

Memorial services for Barbara Ann Waggoner, formerly of Rolla, age 80, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Memorials are suggested to the Christian Science Church in Boston, Mass.

WEATHER    [TOP]

Today..Partly cloudy early, then mostly cloudy through the late morning and early afternoon, then partly cloudy skies late this afternoon with very windy conditions, high of 56.
Tonight..Mostly clear and cool, low of 39.
Thursday..Mostly sunny, high of 55.
Thursday night..Partly cloudy and cold with a chance of frost, low of 31.
Friday..Partly cloudy, high of 56.
Friday night..Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance for rain, low of 31.