Washakie Medical Center rated best health system employer in Wyoming

Filling in for CEO Lisa Van Brunt during the Aug. 27 meeting of the Washakie Medical Center Board of Directors, Chief Nursing Officer Brandy Kottmann was happy to share some exciting news with board members. Kottmann announced that Washakie Medical Center had been declared the top health system employer in the State of Wyoming. These results come from a poll conducted by Forbes, according to Kottmann.

Building report

Plant Operations Manager Steve Wiecki began his report by sharing estimates for the project to replace flooring in the walk-in clinic next to the hospital. Estimates came from four different local businesses, representing generic estimates for an unspecified variety of carpeting as well as vinyl, the two options suggested by clinic staff.

Although Wiecki came to the meeting with the idea that all of the flooring replaced would likely be vinyl, Kottmann advised him that the project would likely require a mix of both carpet and vinyl flooring, depending on the needs of the area the flooring is being replaced in. She stated that while vinyl flooring is preferable for hygiene purposes in patient areas, carpet is preferable elsewhere to reduce noise.

Kottmann and Wiecki agreed they would visit with representatives at the clinic later on to discuss the new flooring, and Wiecki would return at a following meeting with estimates that reflected a total price using both carpeted and vinyl materials.

Wiecki also said that on the day following the meeting, he would have Kings Carpet One come in to give an estimate to replace laminate flooring in the bathroom of the hospital’s ultrasound area.

He additionally informed the board that he has yet to hear back from four contractors he had reached out to about a project he had intended for the summer, replacing a sliver of the hospital’s lawn with additional parking space.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Deborah Briggs presented financial information for the hospital for the month of July.

Gross revenue for the month was $4.5 million, down $165,000 from the prior month.

Net revenue was $2.4 million, down $466,000 from the prior month.

Expenses were reported at $2.9 million.

The hospital took a net loss of $734,000 in July. A contributing factor was patient days — a unit representing the patient occupancy of the hospital from day to day — being down by 29% from July of last year.

All losses are covered by Banner Health.