LHD Board receives audit/cost report

The Lavaca Hospital District Board of Directors heard the district’s annual audit/cost report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2021.

Representing BKD CPAs and Advisors of Waco, Deborah Whitley, displayed a power-point presentation reporting on the hospital’s history of collections, accounts receivable, liabilities, income statement and operating expenses.

In addition, Whitley shared information on concerns she feels will face rural hospitals throughout the state for the next two to three years.

In her presentation, Whitley listed three areas that is occurring with health care including the 1115 waiver, pricing transparency and COVID-19 and provider relief funds.

Regarding concerns, Whitley said, “The biggest concern she has is paying to keep the work force to run the hospital. That’s a huge concern going forward.”

Whitley said people are willing to change jobs faster today, work remotely and make more money.

“I think we’re going have a real big challenge with loyalty and that will cause expense control issues,” Whitley said.

She also spoke about the challenges facing rural hospitals regarding cash management.

“I think we’re going to see tremendous challenges on cash management in the next two to three years,” Whitley said. “My biggest concern is where is our cash going to be two years from now.”

In closing, Whitley complimented LHD for the work they do in facing the challenges.

“I think you guys do a great job. It was a great year with big challenges,” Whitley said. “I put you up against any rural hospital in Texas.”

Election of officers

At the start of the meeting, Lavaca County Clerk Elizabeth Kouba conducted swearing in ceremonies which was followed by officers elected for the district

The board voted to retain James Fenner as its president with Rosanne Gallia remaining as the board vice-president and Gene Schott as secretary.

The board also approved the appointment of committee members, which will remain the same as the previous and include:

• Building, grounds and equipment – Gene Schott and Rosanne Gallia.

• Finance and planning compliance – Carl Hobbs, John Allen and James Fenner. Total Quality Management – Carl Hobbs, John Allen and James Fenner. Strategic planning – Carl Hobbs, John Allen and James Fenner.

• Credentials – Forest Kroschel and James Fenner.

• Hospital Auxiliary – James Fenner and Forest Kroschel.

Medical Staff Applications

The board accepted a list of medical staff applications that included 24 physicians approved for Advancement from Provisional Consulting Staff.

In addition, the board approved two medical personnel for Application for Allied Health, who included Colby DeDear as a radiologist assistant and Samantha Murillo as a scrub tech.

All were approved for Diagnostic Radiology and Radiology.

Lavaca Medical Center administrator Steve Bowen said the physicians are part of the new radiology group for the hospital.

Administrative/Financial Report

Bowen, presented his administrative report for the month of May.

Bowen said due to physician assistant Kelly Haas and Dr. Claire Zengerle both leaving the clinic, he is in the process of recruiting a temporary doctor and P.A. to fill in until permanent replacements can be obtained.

Bowen said the clinic recently conducted 350 physicals for Hallettsville and Shiner athletes and will do Sacred Heart’s later this month.

In the financial report, Bowen said district revenue was down, but after talking to area administrators in the area, everyone was down.

“We’re still right at break even or 1% above in district revenue for April,” Bowen said. Bowen said the clinic had a profit for April, but was still down about 100 visits for year-to-date.

He said everybody was down in visits, but the clinic is doing really well.

In other action taken by the board:

• Approved a resolution appointing Lavaca County Tax Assessor-Collector, Deborah Sevcik, to perform LHD’s effective tax rate and rollback rate.

Board president James Fenner presided over the meeting with board members Carl Hobbs, Gene Schott, Forrest Kroschel, John Allen and Doug Kubicek present for the meeting.