The Board of Trustees of Roosevelt County Special Hospital District met in regular session Tuesday in the conference room at Roosevelt General Hospital: 

• Eva Stevens, chief financial officer, reported on the financial statements and balance sheet for the month of October. She said October revenues were significantly above average due to strong outpatient and clinic services and improved cost reimbursement as a result of the clinic’s federal certification as a rural health clinic. Total hospital revenue was 6 percent and clinic revenue was 3 percent above average. Total revenue for September was $3.27 million with an income from operations of $444,084 for the month. This resulted in a 19-percent operating margin for the month and a 5 percent operating margin year to date.

Purchased services were higher in October due to training and instillation of the new electronic medical records system in the clinic. Stevens also discussed a recent IRS payroll audit in which the IRS was in the hospital for two days and there were no discrepancies reported.

The board also took action to amend the RGH retirement plan to comply with the Hero’s Earnings Assistance and Relief Act (HEART Act) of 2008.

• Anne Grayson was introduced as the new chief of staff and she thanked the board for their support. Grayson reported on the activities of the RGH medical staff. The staff is working to revise its bylaws, develop an inpatient Hospitalist Program and implement new treatment guidelines for quality improvement. Grayson also reported that the medical staff would like to see the hospital seek Joint Commission (JCAHO) accreditation in 2012.

• Based upon medical staff recommendation, the RGH board approved Dr. Willie Posey for Associate Medical Staff privileges in internal medicine/Ccardiology; Dr. Ruben Torrez for active re-appointed in family medicine; and Dr. Douglas Zischkau for consulting privileges in emergency medicine.

• Maxine Montano, chief nursing officer, discussed how patient care services are working on new quality measures. She also reported that the inpatient unit has been a little slow this summer.

• Larry Leaming, chief executive officer, introduced Amber Hamilton, public relations and marketing director, who presented the bylaws for the new RGH Foundation. The foundation is a new 501 (c) 3 corporation with the sole purpose of raising funds to support the mission of Roosevelt General Hospital. Hamilton reported that county-wide support for the development of this foundation has been wonderful. The board will review the bylaws and place them on the agenda for the December meeting.

• Leaming presented an overview of the RGH Compliance Program. The program is designed to help assure that RGH is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. A formal board resolution supporting the Compliance Program was passed by the Board of Trustees.

• The board reviewed another draft of board of trustees bylaws and will now send them for legal review.

— Submitted Larry E. Leaming, RGH chief executive officer