SOUTH PENINSULA HOSPITAL SERVICE AREA BOARD
REGULAR MEETING

SPH Conference Rooms                                                                       June 2nd, 2005

Call to Order:

Acting Chair Green called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Roll Call:

Present:  Board Members:  Cabana, Steciw (telephonically), Anderson, Green, Dentz, Berg-Forrester, Byrd, Stark, Howard

Staff:  CEO Franz; CFO Parnell

Approval of Agenda

Acting Chair Green mentioned election of officers, which was on the May agenda, did not occur due to not having a quorum. Because of a long agenda this evening he had planned to include it in the July agenda. Some members had indicated they would like it added this evening and Mr. Green asked for a show of hands. Four Board members indicated they would like it added to the agenda this evening. Election of Officers was added as item 7.5 after Approval of Minutes - May 18, 2005.

A discussion regarding the meeting packets incurred. Distribution of Meeting Packets was added as Item E under New Business.

CEO Franz requested modifying Item D under New Business to include another apartment lease on Pennock Street.

Comments from Audience:  

Dr. Hal Smith, Director of the Emergency Department at SPH, commented on the decision made by the SAB regarding holding the OB clinic at the hospital.  He said for the record he was present at Board Retreats where an OB consultant coming to Homer was on the agenda and was something that everyone wanted.  Mr. Green mentioned the SAB expressed support for the concept but took issue with the process that was followed by the BOD in making their recommendation.

Approval of  Minutes 04/07/05

Acting Chair Green referred to an errata sheet listing of typographical errors, which were independently discovered. There were no other corrections. Board Member Berg-Forrester moved, Board Member Stark seconded, to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed.

Approval of Minutes - May 5, 2005

Acting Chair Green mentioned they did not have a quorum that evening.  The minutes did not need to be approved and would be for information only.

Approval of Minutes - May 18, 2005

Board Member Berg-Forrester moved, Board Member Anderson seconded, to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion passed. Mr. Green mentioned in the first sentence under Executive Session a change should be made to the following: .....seconded by Board Member Berg-Forrester the Board recessed the general meeting and went into executive session.

Election of Officers

Acting Chair Green opened nominations for Chairperson. Mr. Green nominated Board Member Steciw, Board Member Dentz seconded the nomination. Ms. Steciw respectfully declined. Board Member Anderson nominated Board Member Cabana, Board Member Berg-Forrester second the nomination. There were no further nominations and Mr. Green declared nominations closed. As a show of support for Ms. Cabana Mr. Green recommended approving her election by unanimous consent. There were no objections and Ms. Cabana continued the meeting as Chairperson.

Chairperson Cabana opened nominations for Deputy Chair. Board Member Anderson nominated Board Member Berg-Forrester, Board Member Howard seconded the nomination. Ms. Berg-Forrester respectfully declined. Board Member Berg-Forrester nominated Board Member Stark, seconded by Board Member Dentz. Board Member Stark nominated Board Member Green. Mr. Green respectfully declined. Chairperson Cabana closed nominations. By unanimous vote Ms. Stark was elected Deputy Chair. According to the Bylaws Board Member Howard will continue her term as Secretary. After checking the Bylaws, and for purposes of clarification, Board Member Green resigned as Deputy Chair, which was his position prior to becoming Acting Chair.

Committee Reports:

Board Member Byrd reported the committee is recommending forming a joint SAB/BOD Audit Committee to investigate areas of concerns prior to the hospital’s annual audit. This will be discussed further under New Business.

Board Member Green mentioned Homer Secretarial Services was providing the SAB more assistance in order to take some of the support pressure off of the hospital. He reviewed various steps that had been taken to provide payment for secretarial services in the past, as well as some to currently consider.

CFO Parnell touched on items in the financial statement dated June 2 and asked if there were any questions. She reported the individual working on the fixed asset inventory had a family emergency and it will be available in July.  Ms. Parnell mentioned because they record all financial activity from the KPB a report on the SAB activity can be provided to the Board in a summary format. They are working on the FY06 operating budget and a joint meeting with the BOD and SAB Finance Committees is planned for June 13 to go over the budget.  Ms. Parnell mentioned the auditors will be at SPH the week of July 11, and will return the week of August 29 to complete the audit.

On May 17 Mr. Green, Mr. Franz, Ms. Anderson, and Ms. Parnell presented the capital projects to the KPB Assembly, which were approved.  Ms. Parnell informed the members of a letter she sent to individuals regarding a problem that had occurred when invoicing their accounts, and the steps taken to correct it.

CEO Franz mentioned his written reports for April and May were included in the meeting packets. He also mentioned the Awards Banquet that was held in connection with Hospital Week. Employee of the year was Paul Rauch, who is in the Information Systems Department, and manager of the year was Christine Anderson of the Quality Improvement Department. SAB members recognized were Doris Cabana, for one year of service, and Karen Berg-Forrester for five years of service. Mr. Franz informed the members Laboratory Manager Jody Johnson had requested adding a new test, called the Brain Natriuretic Peptide Test, to the list of services provided at the Hospital. It is used to rule out congestive heart failure in a patient and was being out-sourced and required a minimum of 24 hours for the results. Doing this in-house will be a great help in ER and add revenue to the hospital. This was approved by the BOD at their last meeting. Mr. Green added the meter used for this testing is also able to check for drugs of abuse.

CEO Franz referred to the copies of letters in the members’ packets, which were between the architects and the Department of Public Works. They indicated a difference of opinion and it is hoped that both parties can work together to get the project back within budget and completed. Mr. Franz also reported the City Council has met with the Borough Mayor, and other Borough representatives, to clarify their positions.

Committee Chairperson Stark referred to the resolution adding Executive Committee to the SAB Bylaws to be covered under Old Business. Ms. Stark suggested that with the reorganization of SAB officers a new Governance Committee Chair be appointed and recommended Board Member Steciw. Ms. Steciw declined. Board Member Dentz was recommended and she accepted the appointment to Governance Committee Chair.

Committee Chairperson Dentz reported $1,325.00 was donated by the medical provider community for the scholarship. Other items covered were: the Vial of Life is still undergoing distribution, they are looking over a brochure that was designed by Sarah Stroud and Janine Simcoe of SPH for the Foundation, three rooms in Acute Care are being revamped to be similar to the Privacy Room in LTC, and they have received the Rasmuson Foundation grant for the LTC bathrooms and have matched the funds to proceed. Ms. Dentz mentioned they will not meet again until September.

Board Member Berg-Forrester mentioned since the BOD and the SAB have been involved with the Borough facilitation meetings the Joint Board Committee has not met. It was decided to drop this item from the agenda at this point in time.

Old Business:

Board Member Stark reviewed reasons for forming an Executive Committee and its responsibilities. CFO Parnell asked to be notified of certain changes, such as money transfers for the SAB by the Borough, so her department is able to watch for these transfers. Board Member Berg-Forrester felt any business conducted by the Executive Committee should always be reported and ratified at the next general meeting. Board Member Berg-Forrester moved, Board Member Green seconded, for a resolution adding Executive Committee to Article V of the Service Area Board Bylaws. The motion passed.

Board Member Steciw informed the members she has made phone calls but has not yet had anyone respond.  Mr. Green reported on information he had which indicated this was now at a standstill at this point in time.

Board Member Berg-Forrester provided information on leases.  Board Member Berg-Forrester moved, Board Member Steciw seconded, to maintain the amended policy that was forwarded to the Operating Board as their acceptance and approval of the leasing policy and not the one sent back to the SAB for reconsideration.  CEO Franz spoke regarding the thoughts of the Operating Board on the contents of their policy.  After further discussion Ms. Berg-Forrester withdrew her motion and moved that under Policy Number F-11 of the Operating Board, which was forwarded to the SAB for approval, to amend Item 4 to read:  Intermittent rentals for housing temporary staff that do not require a lease not exceeding a two week period would not require prior approval of the SAB.  The SAB will be notified of such rentals at the next regularly scheduled SAB meeting or a convened Executive Committee.  Ms. Anderson seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

New Business:

Board Member Stark moved, Board Member Dentz seconded, to approve the Hazard Mitigation Grant.  The motion passed.

Board Member Steciw requested moving this to the July meeting.

Board Member Green spoke regarding the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the invitation from the BOD to form a joint Audit Committee.  Board Member Dentz moved, Board Member Green seconded, that the SAB form a joint Audit Committee with the Operating Board.  Ms. Dentz and Ms. Berg-Forrester volunteered to be on the committee.  The motion passed and Board Secretary Howard will draft a letter to the BOD.  Board Members Dentz and Berg-Forrester were appointed to the committee by Chairperson Cabana.

There was some discussion regarding the recommended Fairview Avenue leases by the Operating Board, and the recent addition of the Pennock Street apartment.  Board Member Berg-Forrester moved that an over-all review of the existing leases be on the agenda for approval or disapproval at the September meeting, with information on the leases provided by Administration prior to the September meeting for their review and to address items set out in the policy recommendations by the SAB. The motion was seconded by Board Member Anderson. The motion passed.

Board Member Berg-Forrester moved, Board Member Anderson seconded, to approve and adopted Resolution #05-01. The motion passed.

Board Member Byrd moved, Board Member Dentz seconded, to recommend the Governance Committee look for a building to possibly purchase for hospital housing. Board Member Berg-Forrester volunteered to be of assistance. No vote was taken on this matter.

Board Member Dentz moved, Board Member Berg-Forrester seconded, for Homer Secretarial Services to mail the packets as soon as they are available.  Board Member Howard spoke regarding deadlines for items to be included in the packets, possibly changing the meeting date, and having the BOD items as lay down information available upon arrival the night of the meeting.  Board Member Berg-Forrester made a friendly amendment to the motion, seconded by Board Member Anderson, to do the Operating Board items, if necessary, as lay downs at the regularly scheduled meeting and to refer this to the Governance Committee to come back with a policy resolution for a change of meeting date.  The motion passed.

Comments from Audience

Maria Victoria Soto mentioned there were very good web sites that summarize the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and touched on the leasing problem.

CEO Franz reported that according to the American Hospital Association there will be a need for an additional 750,000 registered nurses by 2020. There was further discussion regarding nursing and other health care provider shortages locally.

Comments from board members and/or Staff

Board Member Green asked if there was a need for Executive Session. It was decided not to go into Executive Session.

Board Member Dentz commented on Dr. Hal Smith’s earlier comments and asked Administration to inform the Medical Staff of the SAB view on the OB/GYN Clinic.

Board Member Steciw felt the Medical Staff should contact the SAB directly with their comments and opinions and not through Administration.

CFO Parnell also suggested the SAB direct their comments directly to the Chief of Staff and not through Administration.

Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. by a motion made by Board Member Byrd and seconded by Board Member Dentz.