July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Hospital renovations move forward (3/15/05)
Board OK's several projects
By By Rachelle Haughn-
Some noticeable changes are coming to Jay County Hospital.
The Jay County Hospital Board voted Monday to proceed with planned renovations to the hospital’s pharmacy, physician entrance, second floor patient rooms and corridors and to construct the geriatric psychiatric care ward.
Board members also accepted a bid from Weigand Construction of Fort Wayne, a construction management firm, to oversee all of the work.
JCH chief executive officer Joe Johnston said the plan is to make the pharmacy 50 percent larger and install new exhaust hoods in that area to comply with government regulations. Also, noise reduction changes are needed in the physician entrance area, Johnston said.
The second floor patient corridors and rooms were constructed 25 years ago. Johnston said these patient areas were given new paint and carpeting about 12 years ago. He would like to see the 25-year-old furniture replaced and for the rooms to be made patient-friendly. The corridors also need new flooring, wall coverings and ceilings, he said.
The 10-bed psychiatric care unit for elderly patients will be established where the specialty referral clinic is currently located. Plans call for the area, which is located at the back of the hospital, to be renovated and for 1,600 square feet to be added.
Johnston said this morning hospital officials hope to have all of the remodeling completed by September. He would like the work to begin as soon as possible.
Weigand will be paid 4.5 percent of the total construction cost, Johnston said. The firm’s bid was accepted because it was the lowest bid. Two other firms submitted bids of 6.5 and 8.5 percent of the total construction cost.
The cost of the remodeling won’t be known until the construction bids come in, Johnston said. No cost estimate was available from hospital officials.
Besides supervising the construction, Weigand also will seek bids for the work. Once a bid is accepted by the hospital board, the firm will make sure the work is done on time and that the construction company keeps costs within its bid, Johnston said.
In other business, the board voted to allow JCH director of human resources Jerry Bozell to begin contract negotiations with search firms to find a new pharmacy director for the hospital.
At the Jan. 26 meeting, the board voted to end a contract with Pharmacy Systems Inc. to provide pharmacy management because the company had problems providing a director.
Board members decided Bozell could go ahead and secure contracts with search firms, as long as the fee was 30 percent or less than what the pharmacy director would make in a year.
Johnston declined to disclose what the annual salary is for the pharmacy director.
Also Monday, the board:
•Approved the purchase of a Smart CR package from Fuji Medical Imaging for $184,504.
The software will make X-ray images digital instead of putting them on film. The images can then be viewed on a computer. Physicians will be able to view the images from home on a web site or at other offices in the county.
•Voted to increase the amount of money Johnston is allowed to spend on non-budgeted items from $2,500 to $5,000.
•Approved the purchase of a PACS upgrade from Agfa-Gevaert Group for $38,554.
This computer software is used to transmit digital images of CT scans and MRIs to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. It needs to be upgraded to improve the software’s capabilities. Also, some of the old software is not HIPPA compliant and does not ensure patient privacy, JCH manager of information systems and support services Jeff Horn said.
•Approved a 3 percent increase in charges on a two-year agreement with Symphony Respiratory Services.
The company provides respiratory therapy services at the hospital. It increased its service fee because the cost of living has gone up, Johnston said.
•Appointed board member Debbie Kumer to replace former board member Bill Davis on the hospital’s limited liability company board.
The board was formed when JCH purchased the Vormohr Medical Center. Its purpose is to oversee all business processes for the building.
•Heard JCH chief financial officer Don Michael report the hospital had a net income of $126,179 in January, which is up 65.3 percent from the budgeted figure of $76,334. In February, there was a net income of $175,712, which is up 104.8 percent from the budgeted figure of $85,790.
Admissions in January totaled 115. This figure is up 17 percent from the budgeted number of 98. In February, admissions totaled 74. This figure is down 20 percent from the budgeted number of 93.
•Heard auxiliary president Marilyn Post report 56 hospital auxiliary volunteers worked 782 hours in January, and 63 volunteers worked 1,237 hours in February.[[In-content Ad]]
The Jay County Hospital Board voted Monday to proceed with planned renovations to the hospital’s pharmacy, physician entrance, second floor patient rooms and corridors and to construct the geriatric psychiatric care ward.
Board members also accepted a bid from Weigand Construction of Fort Wayne, a construction management firm, to oversee all of the work.
JCH chief executive officer Joe Johnston said the plan is to make the pharmacy 50 percent larger and install new exhaust hoods in that area to comply with government regulations. Also, noise reduction changes are needed in the physician entrance area, Johnston said.
The second floor patient corridors and rooms were constructed 25 years ago. Johnston said these patient areas were given new paint and carpeting about 12 years ago. He would like to see the 25-year-old furniture replaced and for the rooms to be made patient-friendly. The corridors also need new flooring, wall coverings and ceilings, he said.
The 10-bed psychiatric care unit for elderly patients will be established where the specialty referral clinic is currently located. Plans call for the area, which is located at the back of the hospital, to be renovated and for 1,600 square feet to be added.
Johnston said this morning hospital officials hope to have all of the remodeling completed by September. He would like the work to begin as soon as possible.
Weigand will be paid 4.5 percent of the total construction cost, Johnston said. The firm’s bid was accepted because it was the lowest bid. Two other firms submitted bids of 6.5 and 8.5 percent of the total construction cost.
The cost of the remodeling won’t be known until the construction bids come in, Johnston said. No cost estimate was available from hospital officials.
Besides supervising the construction, Weigand also will seek bids for the work. Once a bid is accepted by the hospital board, the firm will make sure the work is done on time and that the construction company keeps costs within its bid, Johnston said.
In other business, the board voted to allow JCH director of human resources Jerry Bozell to begin contract negotiations with search firms to find a new pharmacy director for the hospital.
At the Jan. 26 meeting, the board voted to end a contract with Pharmacy Systems Inc. to provide pharmacy management because the company had problems providing a director.
Board members decided Bozell could go ahead and secure contracts with search firms, as long as the fee was 30 percent or less than what the pharmacy director would make in a year.
Johnston declined to disclose what the annual salary is for the pharmacy director.
Also Monday, the board:
•Approved the purchase of a Smart CR package from Fuji Medical Imaging for $184,504.
The software will make X-ray images digital instead of putting them on film. The images can then be viewed on a computer. Physicians will be able to view the images from home on a web site or at other offices in the county.
•Voted to increase the amount of money Johnston is allowed to spend on non-budgeted items from $2,500 to $5,000.
•Approved the purchase of a PACS upgrade from Agfa-Gevaert Group for $38,554.
This computer software is used to transmit digital images of CT scans and MRIs to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. It needs to be upgraded to improve the software’s capabilities. Also, some of the old software is not HIPPA compliant and does not ensure patient privacy, JCH manager of information systems and support services Jeff Horn said.
•Approved a 3 percent increase in charges on a two-year agreement with Symphony Respiratory Services.
The company provides respiratory therapy services at the hospital. It increased its service fee because the cost of living has gone up, Johnston said.
•Appointed board member Debbie Kumer to replace former board member Bill Davis on the hospital’s limited liability company board.
The board was formed when JCH purchased the Vormohr Medical Center. Its purpose is to oversee all business processes for the building.
•Heard JCH chief financial officer Don Michael report the hospital had a net income of $126,179 in January, which is up 65.3 percent from the budgeted figure of $76,334. In February, there was a net income of $175,712, which is up 104.8 percent from the budgeted figure of $85,790.
Admissions in January totaled 115. This figure is up 17 percent from the budgeted number of 98. In February, admissions totaled 74. This figure is down 20 percent from the budgeted number of 93.
•Heard auxiliary president Marilyn Post report 56 hospital auxiliary volunteers worked 782 hours in January, and 63 volunteers worked 1,237 hours in February.[[In-content Ad]]
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