Hospital board re-elects all officers

The Board of Directors of the Washakie Medical Center held office elections during their meeting on August 22 which resulted in no changes from the previous term.

Dean Carrell was re-elected as president, Sheri Gunderson remains vice president, Bryony Volin remains board secretary and Ryan Baumeister is treasurer. Each officer obtained unanimous votes from their fellow board members.

FINANCIALS

Washakie Medical Center reported $3.8 million in gross revenue for the month of July, down $700,000 from July of 2022, according to Banner Health Chief Financial Officer Jennifer McMillan. McMillan said, “July typically is a very busy month but this particular July really was a lot less than in prior years.”

Net income for the month of July was a loss of $344,000 for the hospital. Net income for the year so far is $553,000.

In summary McMillan said, “Overall, we did have a challenging month in July; August is shaping up to be a little bit more favorable compared to what we had forecast, so if we can keep on that track we might be able to make up some of that ground that we lost in July.”

CEO REPORT

Chief Executive Officer Jay Stallings had an update for the board on the proposal to restart the hospital’s wellness program. Owing its origin to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the wellness program was offered to community members as an inexpensive membership that allowed them use of the hospital’s exercise facilities and equipment. It became a staple to some community members, and its absence was felt when the program shut down following the pandemic due to staffing concerns.

Stallings told the board that although he did not have an answer for them regarding the future of the wellness program, he assured them that they would have one by the next board meeting. He said, “What we need to do is make sure that the resources that we have are being utilized to the very best. We are confined to some degree by how many full-time equivalent employees we have in our facility, and those individuals are being optimized to the fullest.”

Later in the report, Stallings announced that Washakie Medical Center was in a preliminary discussion regarding exploring options for the hospital to obtain the building and land currently occupied by The Lighthouse crisis stabilization center. The Lighthouse – currently located directly south of the hospital – houses short-term residential patients of Cloud Peak Counseling Center who require crisis resolution. The Lighthouse will relocate in July 2024 to a new location on North 10th Street. Stallings reminded his audience that the plan to obtain The Lighthouse was still only an idea, as a price for the building has yet to be discussed.

He also announced that Worland nurse Natalie Leyva would be retiring from Washakie Medical Center after a 42-year career in nursing. Stallings said, “She’s phenomenal. I’ve had her as a nurse, she’s also been a nurse for family members, and her quiet manner – as well as being highly competent – truly exemplifies what nursing care truly is, as well as being a true human being to match. I will miss her terribly.”

Finally, Stallings told the board that a bench would be placed in the hospital in honor of Meg Stark, a longtime friend of Washakie Medical Center. Dale Ainsworth donated an ornate handcrafted wooden bench to the hospital after an honorarium was held last weekend for Stark.

Stark served on the Hospital Auxiliary for many years and passed away Sept. 19, 2022.