The Greene County Medical Center Board of Trustees met yesterday in regular session.

Chief Executive Officer Carl Behne told the Board that the Public Health Department will be partnering with Webster County Hospital and the Iowa Family Planning Health Council to provide screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.  Dr. David Jaskey said Greene County was the second highest county in the state with individuals diagnosed with chlamydia and gonorrhea which may be attributed to more people getting screened for it.

In response to McFarland Clinic’s termination of their pediatric coverage for newborns, the medical center has contracted Dr. Cody Silker from Guthrie County Hospital to provide short-term pediatric care for newborns with her position to start July 21st.

During the financial report, the year-to-date operating revenue was at $20,289,315 at the end of June compared to $23,203,260 in expenses for a loss of $2,913,946 which shows a net loss of $1,255,742.  The medical center has paid $1,213,709 toward the EPIC project with an expected 82.3% reimbursement, or $998,803, claimed through meaningful use.  There was a 23% drop in acute patient days in June compared to May and a 44% increase in skilled days.  Outpatient visits were down three percent overall for June and it is down seven percent over the year.

The hospital will be implementing a new program that will allow emergency room physicians to admit patients to the medical center and the patient will remain at the hospital unless they have a preference for care.  It will allow for patients to stay locally and alleviate some of the hardships of having to travel to other medical facilities.

Behne reported that the footings and the basement for the building expansion project have been poured and the retaining wall is expected to begin next week.  Once the retaining wall is built and the foundation is complete, then steel beams will start to be installed.