LHD board holds regular meeting
The Lavaca Hospital Board of Directors met in its regular meeting Monday evening with a brief agenda.
The board approved medical staff applications submitted by LMC assistant chief of staff Dr. Morgan Heck.
Approved for advancement from provisional courtesy staff was gastroenterologist Christina Awad, M.D.
Applications for Michael Carrizal, D.O. (emergency medicine) and David Nemoto, M.D. (gastroenterology) were approved for provisional courtesy staff.
Also, applications for provisional consulting staff were Abdelrahman R. Abdelaziz, M.D. both in psychiatry (tele-medicine) along with Harrison Sun, M.D. neurology (tele-medicine).
Administration/Financial Report
Lavaca Medical Center administrator Steve Bowen, presented the administration and financial report for June.
Bowen informed the board that Dr. Maurice Wilkinson resigned her position from the clinic but will admit patients into Lavaca Medical Center.
Bowen said Dr. Wilkinson joined Dr. Donald Kocurek in Schulenburg and will eventually open her own office in Hallettsville.
Regarding physician recruitment, Bowen said they have a doctor who is very interested in joining the LMC staff and he sent the doctor a contract for approval.
In addition, Bowen said they will be interviewing two other doctors that have some interest in coming to LMC.
In regards to donations and grants received, Bowen said the LMC Auxiliary gave $7,100 that will be used to purchase two automatic doors inside the surgery area.
Bowen said LMC received a grant for $86 thousand from the Texas Department of Agriculture. He said the grant allows them to purchase a blood bank refrigerator.
Also, Bowen said they received a $350 thousand HHCS grant that will be used to purchase an assortment of machines related to vision.
Bowen said in regards to the physical therapy/wellness center project, they will meet with the contractors next week, Tuesday, July 29.
Bowen presented the financial report for June saying the average daily patient census for the hospital was 4.4 days.
He said year-to-date the clinic was up 9% on patient visits, while surgeries mainly involving cataracts and gastroenterology was up 62% and the emergency room visits were up 5%.
Bowen said the gross district revenue for June was up 14%, the total other revenue was up 19% and the total district revenue was up 15%, all percentages was based on last year at this time.
Regarding the clinic, Bowen said year-to-date the gross revenue is up 5% as well as total other revenue.
In other action taken by the board:
• Approved the public investment policy.
• Approved the quarterly public investment.
Board president James Fenner presided over the meeting with board members Rosanne Gallia, Carl Hobbs, Forrest Kroschel, Gene Schott, Doug Kubicek and Ronnie Juenke attending.