July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
JCH to get fiber optic line
Jay Hospital Board
In order to keep up with the future data transfer needs, the Jay County Hospital Board of Trustees approved a contract Wednesday for high-speed fiber optic Internet, data, TV and phone service.
The contract with Hometown Cable Company of Indiana LLC, was approved for 10 years at a cost not to exceed $7,100 per-month to provide high speed data transfer capabilities to the hospital and its physician’s offices. The board authorized hospital CEO Joe Johnston to execute the contract after a review by hospital counsel.
Johnston said that a fiber-optic connection is something the hospital has been looking at in order to advance its technology to take advantage of electronic medical records as well as long-distance telemedicine. However, due to the sheer amount of data that needs to be transferred, the hospital is in need of the highest speeds it can secure.
Johnston said the federal government, through the Rural Health Association, would have provided some funding to install a fiber-optic line, but that funding would have restricted use of the line for entities other than the hospital.
Board member Roger Locker said one item brought up in the county’s Vision 20/20 planning process during the last year was to bring fiber-optic data lines to the county. This installation will introduce the line to the county, which could potentially expand in the future to be utilized by other businesses.
The board also approved its 2010-11 budget Wednesday night, with budgeted figures remaining about the same as this year. The hospital’s fiscal year ends Thursday.
“A lot of it is estimates and stuff,” said board member John Nill. “Our budget is a guideline … as opposed to a government entity.”
Chief financial officer Don Michael presented the board with some of the new budget figures including expectations for admissions and services for the next year.
Michael said the hospital is forecasting revenue of about $68 million and operating expenses of $31.4 million. The projected hospital net income, however, is only about $500,000.
“We’re walking a pretty thin tight rope to get a half million dollars,” said board member Patrick Miller.
With September yet to be accounted for, the hospital had an annual net income this fiscal year of about $834,000, about $200,000 over estimates set during budget time last year.
In other business Wednesday, the hospital board:
•Heard the auxiliary report from auxiliary president Marilyn Post. In August, 76 volunteers put in 1,576 hours of work.
•Heard the financial report from Michael. In August, although volumes were under budget in all departments except lab and X-ray, the hospital posted a net income of $86,145.
•Approved payment of annual dues to the American Hospital Association at a cost of $9,277. The association provides the hospitals with updates and information about federal legislation affecting hospitals and healthcare and serves as a lobbying voice for hospitals in Washington D.C.
•Approved a contract with Blue and Company to review the hospital’s listing of charges at a cost of $16,000. The company will review the fee schedule of the hospital and physician’s offices and compare it to local competitors.
•Approved a one-year service contract with Abbott for a lab analyzer machine at a cost of $10,500. The machine is used to analyze blood samples for hemoglobin, red and white blood cell and platelets.
•Approved payment of 963 checks and disbursements totaling $1,326,923.70.
•Approved purchase of an EZ-Way Premier Smart Lift at a cost of $5,396.25. The lift is capable of lifting a person up to 600 pounds from the floor.
•Approved a 2-year renewal of vision insurance with EyeMed. A total of 210 hospital employees take advantage of the eye insurance program.
•Approved three appointments and one reappointment to the hospital’s courtesy staff.
•Were informed by Johnston that one of the hospital’s doctors has been removed from the staff after not carrying malpractice insurance. Johnston said the doctor has not practiced since the beginning of the year.
•Were informed by Johnston that information about flu vaccines will be released to the public soon.
•Were reminded by Johnston that the fall health fair will be held Nov. 6.[[In-content Ad]]
The contract with Hometown Cable Company of Indiana LLC, was approved for 10 years at a cost not to exceed $7,100 per-month to provide high speed data transfer capabilities to the hospital and its physician’s offices. The board authorized hospital CEO Joe Johnston to execute the contract after a review by hospital counsel.
Johnston said that a fiber-optic connection is something the hospital has been looking at in order to advance its technology to take advantage of electronic medical records as well as long-distance telemedicine. However, due to the sheer amount of data that needs to be transferred, the hospital is in need of the highest speeds it can secure.
Johnston said the federal government, through the Rural Health Association, would have provided some funding to install a fiber-optic line, but that funding would have restricted use of the line for entities other than the hospital.
Board member Roger Locker said one item brought up in the county’s Vision 20/20 planning process during the last year was to bring fiber-optic data lines to the county. This installation will introduce the line to the county, which could potentially expand in the future to be utilized by other businesses.
The board also approved its 2010-11 budget Wednesday night, with budgeted figures remaining about the same as this year. The hospital’s fiscal year ends Thursday.
“A lot of it is estimates and stuff,” said board member John Nill. “Our budget is a guideline … as opposed to a government entity.”
Chief financial officer Don Michael presented the board with some of the new budget figures including expectations for admissions and services for the next year.
Michael said the hospital is forecasting revenue of about $68 million and operating expenses of $31.4 million. The projected hospital net income, however, is only about $500,000.
“We’re walking a pretty thin tight rope to get a half million dollars,” said board member Patrick Miller.
With September yet to be accounted for, the hospital had an annual net income this fiscal year of about $834,000, about $200,000 over estimates set during budget time last year.
In other business Wednesday, the hospital board:
•Heard the auxiliary report from auxiliary president Marilyn Post. In August, 76 volunteers put in 1,576 hours of work.
•Heard the financial report from Michael. In August, although volumes were under budget in all departments except lab and X-ray, the hospital posted a net income of $86,145.
•Approved payment of annual dues to the American Hospital Association at a cost of $9,277. The association provides the hospitals with updates and information about federal legislation affecting hospitals and healthcare and serves as a lobbying voice for hospitals in Washington D.C.
•Approved a contract with Blue and Company to review the hospital’s listing of charges at a cost of $16,000. The company will review the fee schedule of the hospital and physician’s offices and compare it to local competitors.
•Approved a one-year service contract with Abbott for a lab analyzer machine at a cost of $10,500. The machine is used to analyze blood samples for hemoglobin, red and white blood cell and platelets.
•Approved payment of 963 checks and disbursements totaling $1,326,923.70.
•Approved purchase of an EZ-Way Premier Smart Lift at a cost of $5,396.25. The lift is capable of lifting a person up to 600 pounds from the floor.
•Approved a 2-year renewal of vision insurance with EyeMed. A total of 210 hospital employees take advantage of the eye insurance program.
•Approved three appointments and one reappointment to the hospital’s courtesy staff.
•Were informed by Johnston that one of the hospital’s doctors has been removed from the staff after not carrying malpractice insurance. Johnston said the doctor has not practiced since the beginning of the year.
•Were informed by Johnston that information about flu vaccines will be released to the public soon.
•Were reminded by Johnston that the fall health fair will be held Nov. 6.[[In-content Ad]]
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