The Scurry County Hospital District board of directors approved spending more than $10.3 million cost for the first floor OB suite and third floor surgical suite renovation project during today’s meeting.
The cost includes $105,447 in three alternate plans — an additional air handling unit for the operating room, alternate flooring in the OB department to match the operating room and additional controls in the new maintenance area for the boilers and pumps.
A fourth alternate presented was to upgrade the north and south stairways for $52,719. James Hicks, with Wiley Hicks Construction, said the board could delay that decision until the first quarter of 2016.
The majority of the cost — $8.28 million — is more than the $7.6 million estimate presented to the board in July 2014. Richard Constancio, with Shiver-Migert and Associates, said the increase was due to $1.1 million in work needed for demolition and sewer pipe replacement.
The OB department will be in what is now the speciality clinic area and the current OR area will be redesigned into C-section rooms. The operating area will be on the third floor and will include two suites.
The construction is being funded through a $10 million loan through First Bank and Trust. The remaining costs are being covered by unspent money from other renovation projects.
Hicks said work should begin on Dec. 28 and could be finished by September.
The board approved several policies which must be presented each year. John Everett, chief financial officer (CFO), said no changes were made to the policies, which covered administration, business office/accounting, central supply/purchasing, compliance, environment of care, environmental science, health information management, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and management information services.
The board voted to authorize Cogdell Memorial Hospital (CMH) Chief Executive Officer Ella Raye Helms to proceed with physician recruitment and computer system upgrades, pending available government grants.
Three changes were made to the board bylaws following a unanimous vote. The changes state board meeting agendas will be posted on the CMH website and in an entrance to the hospital. Helms said the district is not required to post agendas at the Scurry County Courthouse.
The second change was to allow the CFO to perform board secretary duties of recording minutes and signing documents.
The final update was to change initial medical staff appointments to one year instead of two years. The bylaws state the district board must approve medical staff credentials.
To clean up paperwork for the CMH Foundation, the board approved appointing current members to the board. Everett said over time, members were added to the foundation board without first being approved by the district board, which is required by the foundation’s bylaws.
Foundation board members officially appointed to the board were Terry Clemmer, Barbara Jamison, Terry Juarez, Nathalie Kelley, Kenny Miller, Linda Molina, Rose Ragland and Carmen Timora. Board members Jim Petty, Max von Roeder and Wade Warren had previously been appointed by the district board.
Following a 28-minute closed session to discuss personnel, the board took no action.
Image
Body