by Eric MullensWALSENBURG — The Huerfano County Hospital District Board of Directors has voted to contract with the Studer Group, a healthcare management and coaching firm, to help the district with retention, plus coaching staff and management.
The three-year contact is valued at $225,000 and offers a 30-out without penalty. The cost to the district will be approximately $19,000 per quarter.
The district will pursue Studer’s agreement that promises a 3-to-1 return on investment. Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center CEO Todd Oberheu said, “Studer boasts they have only one time not been able to meet the 3-to-1 guarantee.”
Studer Group works with healthcare organizations to help them achieve and sustain exceptional improvement in clinical outcomes and financial results, the management firm’s website says. Studer Group partners with organizations to build a sustainable culture that promotes accountability, fosters innovation, delivers a great patient experience, it says.
The motion passed, with board member Dr. Paul Coe voting against the expenditure. “We just moved to spend $225,000, and I’m not sure what they’ll do,” Coe asked. Board member Ron Nielsen said Parkview staff members seemed very pleased with the Studer consultants. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” Coe said following the discussions, but said he had remaining concerns about the value of such an expensive contract. Oberheu said he felt the value would be evident in future training as about 80% of the current managers at the hospital have not managed staff prior to their current positions. This agreement, Oberheu said, “Will offer those managers new, modern tools to do their jobs better. We have a modern, innovative medical staff and I think they’ll like this.”
The board is also moving forward with possible establishment of a Management Service Organization with other medical facilities that could offer shared services on some levels and promote speciality services for the various facilities. Board members were invited to attend a June 25 joint board workshop with other board members from Parkview, Trinidad and Lamar. “I met with CEOs of Trinidad and Lamar, and Kay Whitley (of Parkview) to discuss their proposed plan. This plan would create an owned entity between the four facilities that would share services,” Oberheu reported.
Oberheu mentioned, despite the scheduled joint board members meeting, the upcoming meeting doesn’t mean all avenues between an affiliation between SPRHC and the University of Colorado Health Sciences have been closed. In fact, Oberheu, Board Chairman Bill Hix and Dr. Coe will meet June 17 in Denver with the CEO of University Health System and the CEO of Memorial Hospital.
In other news, Oberheu reported he met recently with Dr. Dorothy Perry, CEO of Spanish Peaks Behavioral Health, to discuss possible mutual agreements which would allow their organization and SPRHC to work towards integrating mental health and primary care. “It was a positive meeting and we are discussing the feasibility of placing a mental health practitioner at our organization at times,” he said in his written report to the board.
Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center Director Marty Schlink reported the home has received notice their application for Pay for Performance showed they had achieved the highest reimbursement for Medicaid residents with an expected annual income of approximately $80,000.
She reported the meeting with the pre-survey team went well, and all plans of corrections were accepted. Schlink reported redecoration work in Freedom Hall continues, saying the new carpeting and newly painted walls have produced positive comments from residents, family members and staff.
She said orientation of 11 volunteers from John Mall High School has been completed and the young volunteers will be very helpful to a variety of departments at the facility.
Schlink reported on a recent meeting with a psychologist who has expressed interest in treating residents at the nursing home rather than having the residents travel to an appointment.
Schlink also introduced Jill Wilson, the new Endurance Program Director to board members.
Schlink showed the board a video describing the Senior Crimestoppers program the living center is considering adopting.
