Hospital Board asked to consider patient and family advisor council
Case Manager/RN Jackie Malinski asked the Pinckneyville Community Hospital Board of Directors to consider creating a six or eight-person patient and family advisory council.
The purpose of the council would be to assist with patient advocacy, reviewing policies from a patient's and/or family member's viewpoint.
Malinski said she envisions a board made up of two current or former patients, two family members of current or former patients and two hospital employees. Board members could nominate candidates and anyone interested could pick up an application to serve.
There would be a four hour orientation before committee members would tour the facilities and shadow employees to learn how things are done. They would then offer suggestions on how to best serve patients.
Malinski hopes to get the patient and family advisory council up and running by April. She plans to make regular reports to the board on the issues the committee discusses.
Selecting employees from those who already serve on the safety and patient satisfaction committees would benefit both those committees as well as the patient and family advisory council.
Red ink expected during Pinckneyville hospital construction
Pinckneyville Community Hospital showed an operating loss of $337,025 and a net loss of $306,846 in December. Those numbers reflect a $350,000 payment to settle a lawsuit filed by Jerry Bolandis. The board approved the payment on Dec. 1.
The year-to-date operating loss is $480,868 and the year-to-date net loss is $85,776. Net income/loss includes income from sources other than operations.
While PCH is in the red, it is not unexpected. Costs surrounding construction of the new hospital contribute to the short term losses. The budgeted operating loss as of the end of December is $380,578 and the budgeted net loss is $120,018.
The board recently began using a new financial report called the financial dashboard. CFO Kara Jo Carson polled the board on what figures they need and how they would like them displayed before creating the shortened reports. There was a training session for board members on the financial dashboard and individual lessons are available, as well as phone consultations, Carson said.
Head of the PCH Financial Committee David Pirsein said that the new dashboard helps the board to understand where they stand financially during and immediately after the construction of the new hospital. The auditors projected the initial losses, which is one reason the board knew they could afford the new facility.
The red ink will diminish over time.
In other business, the board:
• approved the purchase of an AMSCO washer/disinfection machine for the surgery area of the new facility at a cost of $50,543, a colonoscope at an estimated cost of $30,000 and four vital signs monitors for $13,631. Administrator Tom Hudgins said the vital signs monitors will be covered by a trauma grant.
• approved a standard five percent increase in charges for fiscal year 2016.
• discussed how best to explain the hospital's point of service collection policy. There is still some confusion in the community. A service from Mobile, Ala. calls patients ahead of their appointments to discuss deductibles and coinsurance and to let them know what they will be responsible for covering. Discounts are given for payment in full on the day of service and a lesser discount for payment within 30 days. A payment of $100 or 10 percent of the patient's cost, whichever is greater, is due at the time of service. That does not mean that a visit to the Family Medical Center now costs $100. The amount owed depends upon an individual's insurance plan, deductibles and what services are provided. Payment plans are available for both insured and uninsured patients. There are similar discounts for uninsured patients. Anyone with questions may call the hospital at 357-2187 for more information.