Board briefed on Ebola procedures

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County Health Center is making significant strides to combat the infamous Ebola virus that has had United States citizens and medical institutions on edge in the recent month, according to new statements made by HCHC officials.

During Tuesday?s HCHC Board of Trustees meeting, CEO Robb Gardner and Community Health Director Travis Johnson briefed the board on the steps that are currently being taken to care for and help prevent the spread of Ebola if an infected patient were to seek treatment at HCHC.

?We have started working on the policies that are in place to address Ebola specifically,? said Johnson. ?We do want people to understand that Ebola is not in Iowa, however, patients will be asked specific questions regarding Ebola when they come to our facilities. This is something that every hospital coast to coast is going to be doing and we are no different. Our staff is prepared for it and we have the equipment and supplies here to deal with it should it ever become an issue for us.?

Currently, HCHC is working with regional partners, as well as the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prepare its staff to properly care for and treat any patient suspected of having the Ebola virus. As of Monday, all HCHC staff will start a web-based training program designed to educate them on the virus and how to safely treat a patient with Ebola. HCHC officials will also review the use of personal protective equipment for health care workers with its staff. These strides, HCHC officials say, is the best way to proceed in response to the threat of Ebola at this time.

Johnson also advises the general public to be mindful of the symptoms of Ebola which include a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, stomach pain, severe headache or unexplained bleeding or bruising. Patients that suspect they may have Ebola should be prepared to answer whether they have traveled to West Africa or hosted a visitor from that region in the last 21 days.

Besides a briefing on hospital preparedness, the board also welcomed Lynn Humphries, the HCHC human resources director, as she gave an update on her department. Overall, Humphries said, the human resources department has been busy filling position openings and coordinating job shadowing for local students.

?Since the end of March we have had about 87 positions that we have been working to fill, and right now we have around 19 positions that we are currently in the final stages of filling. Those range from full-time to part-time positions,? said Humphries. ?We also have job shadowing going on at just about any time of day...this really helps us with recruitment down the road and bringing folks back to work with us. It?s a really important networking technique.?

Dr. Joel Ryon also gave an update on recent medical staff appointments and resignations. This month, there have been three new staff appointments. In addition, the board approved the resignation of board member, Megan Wenstrand. According to a letter of resignation written to the board by Wenstrand, she is very grateful for her time on the board and says that she has faith in the trustees.

Wenstrand recently closed on some property in Fairfield and will therefore no longer be a resident of Henry County. The bylaws of the HCHC Board of Trustees state that a trustee must be a resident of Henry County in order to serve on the board.

To end the meeting, CFO Dave Muhs presented the board with the health center?s current financial statements. Overall, Muhs said that HCHC has had a successful financial quarter as numbers point to high gross revenue this month. He also stated that insurance claims have been high this year.

In addition to his regular report, the board also approved a proposal made by Muhs to enter into an agreement with Commerce Bank. The agreement will allow HCHC?s vendors to submit and accept payments electronically. Muhs is confident that the program will be much more efficient for HCHC as a whole.

?I couldn?t be more excited for this,? said Muhs. ?This eliminates having to stuff and fold checks and cuts back on a lot of our mailing. It helps us out in a lot of ways. There really is not a bad side to this as far as I can tell.?

The next HCHC Board of Trustees meeting with be on Nov. 18 at 12 p.m., in the HCHC Board Room.