• HGH Interim CEO Karen Cole gave an update on physician recruitment including Pediatrician Veronica Janhunen scheduled to start in August.
• Dr. Alex Curtis, MD. is scheduled to have his license reviewed by the state medical board this month to be approved to practice in Nevada.
• HGH expects internal medicine physician Dr. Adajar to start October 1.
• Cole said she is still searching for additional family practice physicians, with one potential candidate graduating in 2020.
• HGH currently has an interim emergency department medical director and human resources director.
• Chief of Staff Dr. Paul Gaulin, MD. reported that Jeremy Hurst completed his psychiatric continuing education at Duke.
• The board of directors approved the tentative budget previously discussed at a budget workshop.
• The board approved the designation of an OR nurse position as a critical labor shortage, allowing the hospital to hire someone who has previously retired and receiving retirement benefits. The ER currently has openings for three nurses and reports to have been utilizing traveling nursing staff.
• The board approved a $23,306 purchase for a new 12 ton AC and heating unit for the EMS department’s portable hospital to be used at events such as Night in the Country, Burning Man and in the event of an emergency requiring mobile hospital setup. EMS Captain Sean Burke reported that the unit they’re currently using is much smaller and can’t keep up with demands, especially at Burning Man. He said they had to rent a unit last year for the event, costing $10,000. Burke said the item was approved in the FY20 budget, but the request was to be spent in this fiscal year.
• Mike Sheppard with Michael Clay Corporation presented to the board regarding the pharmacy remodel project construction costs, cutting approximately $170,000 from the original quoted remodel price of $2.7 million. The remodel would swap the areas where the physical therapy department and pharmacy are housed, allowing for more room in the pharmacy department. The board moved to accept the bid from Sletten Construction as presented.
• Darlene Bryan presented on the progress that has been made in the long-term care department. She reported that HGH is sponsoring six of the nurse’s aid trainees from the most recent CNA class at Great Basin College and that four were starting their second week. She reported that they have hired three full-time CNAs and said she hopes to be fully staffed soon.
