The Dallas County Hospital Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, March 5, with all members present.
      Total gross patient revenue for the month of January 2009 was $2,641,648, down from the prior month by 3.0 percent. Total monthly net patient revenue trailed budget by $232,465 and exceeded prior year January by $28,845.
      Net income for Dallas County Hospital for the month was $459,770 and year to date is $2,641,091. The Medicare contractual was decreased by $150,000 in January to reconcile to the six-month cost report calculation.

2009-10 Annual Budget
      The trustees approved the 2009-10 annual budget, which included a tax levy rate of $0.60950 per $1,000 of property valuation. This is an increase from the prior year's $0.59132.
      The levy rate will produce $1,898,000 of revenue, an increase from the prior year of $200,000. Uncompensated care is budgeted to increase by $98,600.

Clinical and Quality Report
      Dr. Ash reported the medication time change implemented last month is going well with all staff. He also reported Mercy Capital will be closing its sub-acute until early march. DCH staff attended a meeting with Mercy Feb. 12 regarding the closing of this unit and the potential increase of transfers.
      Iowa Disease Surveillance System training was completed Feb. 4 at Dallas County Hospital by Chris Galezzi, Region 1 Epidemiologist. Four public health nurses and three Dallas County Hospital employees completed the training.
      The software has been implemented and will allow the hospital and public health to share real-time information about infectious disease cases.
      DCH's Quality Director participated in IHA education on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's initiatives for the prevention of urinary tract infections and surgical safety.
      Dr. Steven Quam, an anesthesiologist from Metro Anesthesia, held his first pain clinic at DCH in the Specialty Clinic area Feb. 12. Dr. Quam saw five patients in his clinic and performed four procedures in the surgical services area. 
      The Therapy Services Department has secured a lift chair for the whirlpool room. This will facilitate patient transfer to the whirlpool with improved staff and patient safety.
      An ACLS course was offered Feb, 18-19 at DCH. The course was observed by the American Heart Association Faculty for compliance with standards. DCH instructors Sally Swenson, Rick Johnson, Angela Christner, and Dr. Steve Sohn taught portions of the class.
      DMACC CNA students have begun their clinical rotations and will be on medical surgical unit and ER.
      The next board meeting will be held Thursday, April 2.