WCHS reviews strategic plan, initiatives

At the Weston County Health Services board meeting on Aug. 17, CEO Judd Dawson discussed the fiscal year 2023 financial report, which in the future he hopes will provide more integrated data solutions for the board to use in making financial decisions. Dawson presented the information with the hospital accountant and explained how the financials stack up against previous years, which demonstrated a slight increase in cash on hand overall.
 
Dawson noted that the board and hospital staff have been working together to increase the cash-on-hand averages with minor changes and an eye toward improvements in the months to come.
 
Board Treasurer LeAnn Kenagy presented board members with the board committee report.
 
“They (the hospital) are working on getting the finances straightened out,” Kenagy told board members.
 
She further explained that the accounts are slowly being reconciled so that the board has good data to operate off of when making decisions.
 
“The overtime report was a little high, but we were trying to avoid traveling nurses because they are really expensive,” Kenagy said.
 
Kenagy also explained where the board can find the hospital’s long-term debt on a report that Dawson provides the board each meeting.
 
“When we, the board, look at spending money on something – we need to keep these figures in mind so we know these are obligations that we need to consider before moving forward,” Kenagy said.
 
Kenagy explained to the board and Dawson that the board appreciates the debt-book because it is easier to track subscriptions and payment obligations. She also discussed a number of grants available for updates to facilities and services.
 
Dawson told board members that Medicaid had been holding $300,000 of the hospital’s money since September 2022 but has finally relinquished the funds. Dawson asked the board members to sign letters thanking Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman and Reps. Chip Neiman, R-Weston-Crook, and Allen Slagle, R-Goshen-Niobrara-Weston, for their help in securing the funds.
 
Changes coming to WCHS
 
The Weston County Health Services Board of Trustees honored an employee and discussed changes coming to the hospital.
 
“I had someone suggest to me this month, someone I think is well deserving,” board President Dorothy Briggs explained. “I would like to say that for her outstanding services to our community and dedication to the hospital — this month is Melissa Thomas.”
 
Thomas is director of long-term care and is among the first to be recognized by the board in a new effort to honor employees of the local health care system. Briggs explained the board is still developing a process in which employees can be suggested and/or nominated to be recognized, but agreed that this month’s selection is worthy of recognition for the way she stepped into the role and began working on improving it.
 
“You have done an amazing job since you took over this Manor,” Briggs told Thomas as she presented the certificate. “You should be very proud because we are very proud.” 
 
“Thank you for — I guess, believing in me and trusting in the way that I’m trying to make things better and take care of the residents because that’s ultimately what’s in my heart is doing what’s best for them,” Thomas told the board.
 
Kim Scharf, WCHS Quality Director, discussed current staffing, including temporary staffing and incoming staff, which she said helps the hospital better manage case-load efficiency. She also informed the board a number of credentialing requests for medical new-hires at the hospital had no qualification issues and was excited to have the positions filled.
 
Judd Dawson, WCHS CEO, updated the board on the hospital’s strategic plan, (called SWOT), behavioral health transport and the honor employee program, as well as other concerns, such as medical diagnostics.
 
Additionally, Dawson discussed seeking to make changes to the current self-pay system, uninsured/underinsured system and finance systems offered to patients for medical services. He explained how the current system tends to cause unnecessary financial burden to patients and that it hurts his “provider heart” to have to send patients to collections if they default on the medical loans currently offered.
 
Ultimately, the board unanimously approved allowing the hospital to contract with a new patient medical finance service provider. Details about this finance provider will be released at a future date.