Hospital Board discusses bonuses and new EMS building

The Olney Hamilton Hospital Board President Dale Lovett called the budget meeting to order at 6: 45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at 902 Hamilton St., the Hamilton Hospital Education Center.

The board members present included Dale Lovett (Chairman), Bob Craig (Vice chairman), Rita Choat (Secretary), Annetta Buenger, Lyndsey Miller, Ron Rogers, Lonnie Rue, Dr. Jeremy Johnson and Randy Whitmire.

The board had reviewed the budget previously and proceeded with a unanimous vote to approve the 2019- 2020 Operating and Capital Budget for Olney Hamilton Hospital District.

Before adjournment, the board answered questions regarding the retention bonuses that have been in effect since 2018, according to Lovett’s follow-up response. CEO Mike Huff confirmed that the staff who are part of the hospital administration are eligible to receive a re-tention bonus.

“The employees as of now who are on this structure are the chief executive officer, the chief nursing officer, the chief operations officer, and the chief accounting manager, Lovett said. “If the itemized goals for their respective responsibilities are met, the bonus is not to exceed 20 percent of their base, so it is not a set amount but a percentage,” Lovett concluded.

For example, suppose someone earns $180,000 annually. In that case that person could re-ceive a $36,000 bonus if specific predetermined goals are met according to the incentive bonus plan that is used in 60 percent of OHH’s peer hospitals, Lovett explained and further stated that the bonus plan is designed “to keep good employees, reach essential goals and reward hard work.”

“The senior management personnel who are eligible are employees in an area of responsi-bility which is critical to our financial success. If we don’t have the or a goal is not met, it will not be spent from the budget,” Lovett said.

Lovett offered examples of goals that would warrant a bonus payout to senior management.

“Each of these has a financial goal pertinent to their job. For instance, ‘to cut expenses in excess overtime by better managing our staffing.’ Another example, ‘to successfully pass the CLIA and CMS surveys,’” Lovett said. “We have a professional goal to receive or maintain educational components essential to their responsibilities. There are also management goals to oversee the staffing and success of various departments within the organization.”

The regular board meeting that was called to order at 7 a.m. It began with the Administrator’s report followed by the medical staff reports, finance reports, discussion of the tax resale deed, and educational assistance. One highlight included in the medical staff briefing was the number of COVID vaccinations administered to the community. “The clinic has administered 700 and the hospital has administered 300 COVID vaccinations,” Lovett later confirmed.

During the public comments period, the board provided clarification regarding the people’s concerns about the alleged lawsuits. Mike Huff and Dale Lovett confirmed that there is only one pending lawsuit but are restricted from discussing the details.

“There was only one other lawsuit that was filed more than a year ago and was thrown out because it did not have merit,” Lovett said.

Huff confirmed that the hospital received $4 million in COVID funds. Lovett said that they are using the funds appropriately, as confirmed by their legal and accounting teams.

One project that has almost everyone guessing about is constructing the new EMS building on the hospital’s east side. Lovett provided an itemized list of the total cost for the project.

“Regarding the building project funding, Of the $4 million stimulus money we have re-ceived, having been reviewed and scrutinized by our attorneys and auditors: The EMS building is projected to be completed in late June for $1,645,461. The physician suite is projected to be completed any day now at the cost of $169,011. The medical storage building is projected to be completed by late April at the cost of $353,166. This total projected building enhancement will come in around $2,167,638,” Lovett explained.

The building will be approximately 6,000 sq. ft. and will include three ambulance bays, a de-contamination bay, a dormitory, a kitchen, a training area and an equipment storage area.

The next board meeting will be held March 26.