Hospital seeks levy approval

Boundary Community Hospital opened its doors to the public on Oct. 14, for tours of the facility, the various hospital departments, and to provide information to all who wanted to see and learn for themselves why the hospital is asking Boundary County residents to pass the 2016 levy at the upcoming general election on Nov 8.

Guided tours of the hospital, the Extended Care Facility nursing area, and the Outpatient Services department were given to members of the community, including Idaho State Representative Heather Scott and Sage Dixon.

Representatives from the x-ray department demonstrated examples of CT scan images done with the hospital’s new CT scanner, which has already been paid for and is not a part of the levy. The hospital lab also provided information on advances in lab testing equipment.

The hospital’s surgical team reviewed several common surgical procedures routinely performed at the hospital on a weekly basis in their department and discussed the surgical options that could become available if the proposed levy passes.

Tours were given of the hospital’s Rehabilitation Department, where teams of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapy work daily with Boundary County residents who have been injured, who are recovering from surgery, or with other medical issues. Visitors were educated on the department’s extensive equipment and introduced to the therapists who help patients literally get back on their feet.

Hospital’s Board of Directors were available to answer questions about the operation of the hospital and about the proposed levy. The hospital board is made up of local county residents who oversee and govern the hospital in its provision of medical services to the community.

Representatives of the Fry Healthcare Foundation, the non-profit agency dedicated to collecting and dispersing funds, goods and services to meet the ongoing needs of Boundary Community Hospital and Extended Care Facility, were also available to answer questions from the public. Over the years, members of the foundation have raised over $1 million, money they have used to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment, finance facility construction and renovation and fund ongoing programs and services at the hospital.

Representatives of the Hospital Auxiliary. who sponsors events to help raise funds for the hospital, were also at the open house.

BCH held the open house to educate community members on the hospital and its needs with the hopes that the community would support the Nov. 8, levy in order to ensure that the hospital can maintain its current standard of patient care while offering the community faster and better services.

The Hospital Board of Trustees and Boundary Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer Craig A. Johnson broke down the hospital’s needs and the capital improvements which would be covered upon approval of the proposed levy.

Main Fire Alarm Panel Replacement – $100,000: This is a Life Safety requirement for the hospital and will be used to replace the vintage 1992 fire panel that is currently experiencing electrical issues. Parts are not readily available or no longer manufactured.

Climate Control System – $250,000: The hospital would like to upgrade the outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment by installing a Building Management Control System. This system will meet environmental requirements for the hospital while increasing patient comfort throughout the hospital and nursing home. Better controls and efficiencies should result in energy cost savings. In addition, Infection Control Filtering and Humidity Controls for the surgical suite would ensure more precise temperature and humidity control to meet government code compliance standards. An improved surgical suite could result in more specialists coming to Boundary County to perform surgeries.

Surgical Equipment – $202,000: For general surgery, the hospital would like to replace the endoscopy scopes and instruments with state-of-the-art equipment. These new scopes would be easier to clean for infection control and have better imaging when you need a colonoscopy, endoscopy or gastroscopy. Also, warranty and service would reduce costs for repairs. Orthopedic surgery equipment includes a new arthroscopic instrument set and a Shoulder Traction Device. With this equipment, Boundary County residents needing knee or shoulder surgery could get their procedures done here with latest, greatest technology (and follow up physical therapy can be done through hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation.)

Radiology Equipment – $126,000: The C-Arm Portable X-Ray equipment moves around the patient and can be used by the Emergency Department as well as for orthopedic surgeries. Reduced radiation dose and increased patient safety while obtaining better quality images are reasons to replace the existing equipment. In June 2016, a new 64-slice Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner was installed at Boundary Community Hospital. In order to expand testing options, we will need to purchase a new CT Injector for simultaneous injection of saline solutions to reduce the amount of intravenous contrast used for routine studies. In addition to using it for CT angiography and detailed abdominal studies, we will be able to do small vessel imaging.

Laboratory Equipment – $150,000: New equipment required to maintain current test capabilities; however, with new technology we will be able to do faster analysis (in some cases hours vs. days faster), obtain more accurate results, with increased reliability (critical for emergency triage) while reducing tech time to set up tests and maintaining laboratory compliance with National Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute performance standards. Blood testing equipment to be purchased includes Hematology Analyzer with Five Part Auto Diff feature and automated Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate) Analyzer that detects nonspecific inflammation in the body (common test for arthritis and infection). Equipment for bacteria and virus testing includes a Microscan and Film Array with Gastrointestinal (GI) and Respiratory (RP) Panels. This equipment tests for 20 respiratory viruses and bacteria plus 22 common gastrointestinal pathogens that cause infectious diarrhea. Results are available within hours instead of days. As an essential part of the Anti-Microbial Stewardship program, this type of advanced virus testing will help avoid over-prescription of antibiotics.

Boundary County Commissioners approved the ballot measure asking voters to approve a two-year supplemental levy, as allowed by Idaho law, to generate an additional $414,000 per year for Hospital purposes for two years. If approved by a simple majority of voters, initial revenues would be realized no earlier than December, 2017. Accordingly, any voter-approved budget resources could first be utilized in the fiscal year 2017 County Budget. Cost for the levy will be $48.00 per $100,000 in real property assessed value after the homeowner

“As both residents and taxpayers, the Hospital Trustees fully appreciate that no one wants to pay additional taxes; we are not exceptions to that rule ourselves,” Johnson said. “Nonetheless, we recognize and believe the community has acknowledged an up-to-date, well-equipped hospital facility is essential to the health and welfare of county residents.”

Johnson stressed the importance of the levy’s approval, stating that 50 percent of boundary County’s population is over 45-years-old, according to the 2015 census.

“We are an aging community and we are in need of proper medical services,” Johnson said.