LHD Board hears from new ophthalmologist
The Lavaca Hospital District Board of Directors met in its regular monthly meeting Monday evening and heard a short presentation from Dr. Van Kaden Andrea, the new ophthalmologist at Lavaca Medical Center.
Dr. Andrea is a native Texan and grew up in the small town of Greenville.
He attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his Residency training in Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Centerlowship in Glaucoma at UT Southwestern.
Andrea said his clinic, known as Andrea Eye and Optical Clinic is located in Schulenburg.
He specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology and eye exams, standard and advanced cataract surgery, diabetic eye disease, and glaucoma treatment and surgery.
Andrea said he married Leah Mikesky, of Schulenburg, and she practices Internal Medicine in Weimar at the Youens-Duchicela Clinic. He said they have a young son and reside in northern Lavaca County.
Andrea said his clinic, located at 115 College St. in Schulenburg, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and he conducts eye surgeries at LMC on Wednesday between 7 a.m. to noon.
He said his clinic is accepting new patients and they can contact his office at 979-505-4023.
“I have been thrilled with the day surgery department here,” Andrea said. “I’m really happy to be here and I look forward to working with LMC for a long time to come.”
Medical Staff Applications
The board approved medical staff applications submitted by LMC chief of staff Dr. Maurice Wilkinson, who included Jacob Stout, M.D. for Provisional Consulting Staff in Neurology (tele-medicine) and three technicians for Allied Health Personnel for Sleep Medicine Tech who include Brent Karnowski and Samantha Lara, both Certified Polysomnographic Technicians(CPSGT) and Douglas Jay Schleimer (RPSGT).
Wilkinson also provided an update of LMC saying they are starting to see more transmission illnesses from children to the family.
She said they have seen some flu cases as well as Covid cases.
“So, its coming back and make sure if you’re going to be out and about to always wash your hands and make sure you are keeping vaccines up-to-date,” Wilkinson said. “No matter what we have seen on television, or whatever, vaccines have made a huge difference for us in the number of cases that have gone south and you can still get very ill.”
Wilkinson informed the board that LMC is starting a grief/bereavement support group that will take place each Wednesday at 6 p.m.
December Meeting Cancelled
The board voted to not hold a December meeting with the January meeting taking place on Monday, Jan. 20.
Administration/Financial Report
Lavaca Medical Center administrator Steve Bowen, presented the administration and financial report for October and reported on physician recruitment.
Bowen said Dr. Crystal Lopez has indicated she is very interested in coming to LMC. He added that the new gastroenterologist was to begin seeing patients on Fridays has been delayed due to a family matter. Bowen said she hopes he will be able to start by the end of the month.
Regarding other matters Bowen reported to the board, that they are working on a contract with a radiology group to conduct night reads at the hospital.
Bowen said the talk providing a comparison of Medicare and Medicare Advantage held a couple of weeks ago went very well with approximately 40 people attending.
Bowen said they held a Veterans Day ceremony and Dr. Kody Selzer and mid-level April Hall provided a program at the lunch and learn program held recently.
In the financial report, Bowen said the gross district revenue was short .04% compared to last year.
He said they have caught up with last year’s revenue and credited it to mainly the in-patient side for determining the revenue.
Bowen said other total revenue was down 3% and total district revenue for the hospital was the same as last year.
“We had a great month in October,” Bowen said.
He said the monthly daily average of patients stay was 4.9 days with 40 admissions.
Regarding the clinic’s gross patient revenue, Bowen reported it was up 9% and they had over 1,600 visits for the month.
In other action taken by the board:
• Approved the tax roll and levy resolution.
Board president James Fenner presided over the meeting with board members Rosanne Gallia, Doug Kubicek, Carl Hobbs, Forrest Kroschel and Gene Schott attending the meeting.