By Mary Alice Murphy

At the beginning of the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees meeting Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, five employees were recognized for their years of service to the hospital.

Present to receive their awards were Priscilla Baldwin, who has worked for 30 years at the hospital, in Discharge Planning; Amedeo Ferruccio, with 15 years in Physical Therapy; and Lillian Galindo, who has 20 years in Human Resources/Education. Also recognized, but not present, were Rene Carbajal for 35 years in the Operating Room and Dara Ann Foster for 15 years in Med Surg I.

A consent agenda of minutes from board, joint conference committee, finance committee, plant and facility committee, and HR committee meetings were approved.

The next item of business addressed the annual approval of the Open Meetings Act resolution, which met with no opposition or discussion.

In reports and updates, Liz Beilue, Auxiliary chairwoman, said: "We have a desperate need for new volunteers." Holley Hudgins, Marketing director, said a push for new volunteers would be made in the upcoming newsletter, which goes to more than 10,000 area residents.

GRMC Chief Executive Officer Brian Cunningham said: "We, as the leadership team, got so much out of the retreat. It was so energizing for us."

Board Chairman Charles Kelly echoed the sentiment: "And us, as well."

Chief Nursing Officer Pat Sheyka said her report was in the packet and said she would stand for questions. None was asked.

Chief Operations Officer Dan Otero said he had no specific highlights to his report.

Board Vice Chairman Pam Archibald asked if everything were going well with the new Emergency Room services provider, Innova. Otero replied: "Very well."

Another member asked about the new air flight service provider. Otero said: "Both are going well."

Chief of Clinical Services Ray Goellner answered Board Secretary-Treasurer Jeremiah Garcia, who asked for an estimated budget for imaging.

"We are just about to start negotiations, but we estimate between $350,000 and $375,000," Goellner said.

Garcia also asked if the hospital were asking for legislative funding. "We are working with legislators," Cunningham replied.

Chief Financial Officer Omaira Heakin reported a loss in December of $63,000, compared to the loss the previous December 2013 of more than $300,000.

"On the positive side, we have 149.7 days of cash on hand," Heakin said.

"December is usually a challenging month, with the holidays and physicians on vacation," Cunningham said. "It was the first month of this fiscal year with a negative balance at -$63,000. We could have allocated from the reserve, but we are taking a conservative approach not to take reserves."

"We all appreciate knowing exactly what is going on," Kelly said.

When it came to the Chief of Staff report, Cunningham said Dr. Koury was attempting to be at the meeting, but if he did not make it, the items would be addressed.

In committee reports, Kelly said the Executive Committee, as usual every month, prepared the agenda. "I will ask the Nominating Committee, made up of members Freddie Rodriguez, Joe Ramirez and Archibald, to give its report."

Archibald said the slate of officers were to retain Kelly as chairman, Archibald as vice chairman and Garcia as Secretary-Treasurer. The slate was approved.

Kelly said every year, board members are required to sign an affidavit of consent to serve and a conflict of interest disclosure form. "They must be notarized, so we will sign them during the break."

Cunningham returned to the Chief of Staff report, because it required board approval for two items. Members approved minor changes to Section 17:04 of the Medical Staff Bylaws, and a change to the Rules and Regulations, Section 17:2-4A.

No one asked any questions about the Quality Improvement Committee's report, which the members had in their digital packet.

The Finance Committee, headed by Archibald, had several items for consideration and approval. All were agreements between GRMC and the named personnel.

A family practice provider employment agreement with John Stanley, MD, was approved, as was an employment agreement with Cynthia Moreno, CNP, for the hospital-affiliated soon-to be opened Gila Family Medicine. Both agreements were one-year contracts, with the option of renewing three more times, for a maximum of four years.

A family practice building lease agreement, which will house the new practice, was approved for a payment of $31,840 a year. The practice will be located in a building across from the hospital, as part of La Montaño Plaza, which also includes the pain management and cardiology clinics. Archibald said the cost of improvements would be amortized over 36 months.

A professional services agreement for OPPE (Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation) Committee membership was approved for Mark Donnell, MD.

Members approved an amendment to the Emergency Medical Services medical director agreement for A. William Neely, MD, for the balance of the remaining three years on the agreement.

A one-year contract was approved for on-call coverage for general surgery for Okay Odocha, MD.

Members approved the last agreement, a custom E.H.R. (Electronic Health Care Record) on-call renewal between Steve Kanig, MD, and GRMC.

Kelly said the members of the Plant and Facility Committee discussed the many changes to IT (Information Technology). "We also had a discussion about a building for offices."

Ramirez said the Human Resources Committee had nothing outstanding to highlight.

The board members then went into executive session to review the CEO performance and possible action, as well as the usual medical staff appointments and reappointments, and discussions on quality improvement and risk management.