SABINE COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING MINUTES

October 25, 2010

The Sabine County Hospital District Board of Directors met in Regular Session on Monday, October 25, 2010 at 5:30PM in the Sabine County Hospital Board Room 167.

Present
Phil Yocom, President
Earl Willis, VP & Treasurer
Joe McNaughten, Secretary
Richard Barnett, Member at Large
Dr. Lana Comeaux, Member
Becky Pardue, Office Manager

Others Present
Diana Taylor, Hospital Administrator
Duane Keating, Attorney 
Danielle Ebarb, Sabine County Reporter
James Duffy, Guest
 
I.	President Yocom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

II.	Mr. Barnett opened the meeting with prayer. 

III.	With no members of the public present for comment, Mr. Yocom continued the meeting.

IV.	Mrs. Taylor asked the minutes be corrected to state Glynn Perry is from Preferred Management.  Mr. Barnett moved to accept the consent items and financials. Mr. Willis seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

V.	Mrs. Taylor mentioned, as predicted, the month of September had the highest number of inpatient days. Physician recruitment has begun and a promotional flyer was issued to area medical schools, and other facilities for anyone interested in applying. Site visits to Woodland Heights in Lufkin and selected physicians’ offices occurred to promote the Hospital’s swing bed program.  Memorial Hospital in Lufkin was also, visited to research the possibility of expanding Sabine County Hospital’s services to include colonoscopy procedures.  Estimated cost to equip the surgical suite with equipment just is over $100,000.  After several improvements, the Hospital’s monthly billing chart audits have gone from a 32% error rate to 0% in the past three months.  Sabine County Hospital received SHIP grant funding for 2010-2011 in the amount of $8,305.  The grant money will help defray the expense of implementing a new computer server and several additional pieces of IT equipment.  Trauma Level recertification will be held on November 29th and 30th.  Results of patient satisfaction surveys for the month proved to be very positive. No Action Taken.

VI.	The dates of November 22, 2010 and December 20, 2010 for the next regular board meetings will remain the same. No action taken.

VII.	There is no new information concerning the shelter of last resort. No action taken.

VIII.	Mrs. Taylor attended the regional meeting for the Rural East Texas Health Network (RETHN).  She mentioned one of the largest concerns was the amount of funds available for mental health. As the funds continue to be cut, it will be more difficult to find mental health facilities for treatment.  Mr. Yocom expressed his displeasure with how funds and care for mental health issues seem to get overlooked.  Mr. Yocom offered a hand out from a county meeting in early October.  It showed the contribution breakdown and number of admissions for the Mental Health Emergency Center of Lufkin. Sabine County and Sabine County Hospital District were included in the report. This is for information purposes only. No action taken.  

IX.	Only one bid was received in reference to the trimming of trees on Sabine County Hospital District property.  The bid was from Michael Whiteside, with Whiteside Fabrication and Welding, for $6,100.  Mr. Barnett stated the area involved with the bid is between two and two and a half acres. Mr. Barnett moved to reject the bid, seeing as how only one bid was received, and for the District to go to the public for bids again and change wording to say “on site piling and safely burning of debris”. Mr. McNaughten seconded the motion.  Motion carried. 

X.	No bids were received in reference to the District’s Depository.  Mr. Willis mentioned he received a letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services verifying the District’s banking information associated with the Tobacco Settlement Fund direct deposit.  Mr. Willis would like to see that account remain open.  Mr. Yocom moved to instruct the District’s Office Manager to contact local banking institutions and request they provide proposals if interested.  Mr. Willis seconded the motion. Motion carried.  

XI.	Only one bid was received in reference to modification of the emergency room driveway to accommodate tractor-trailer traffic and relieve safety issues on FM 83.  The bid was from Chance Construction for $5,953.75.  Mr. Yocom brought to attention that the District will not have to pay taxes, so the cost would be for $5,500.  Mr. Willis believed that was a great offer.  Mr. McNaughten strongly agreed with Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis moved to accept the bid from Chance Construction. Mr. Barnett abstained from the vote because of family ties within Chance Construction.  Mr. McNaughten seconded the motion. Motion carried.

XII.	Mr. Willis asked Mr. Keating what the bid requirements were for the District’s Liability Insurance. Mr. Keating stated that any amount larger than $50,000 will require public bids. No action taken.

XIII.	Mr. Keating was asked what the bid requirements were for the District’s Liability Insurance. Mr. Keating stated that any amount larger than $50,000 will require public bids. No action taken.

XIV.	Mr. Yocom mentioned while providing services for autistic children in our community is more than likely out of the District’s direct purpose, it is definitely something that the Board can support.  Autism is a growing challenge in America and scientists have not determined what causes it. Mr. Barnett asked what benefit would Sabine County receive by having such a facility. Mr. Yocom offered that it would create jobs in the community and help the growing number of people affected by Autism.  Mr. Barnett then asked how would such a facility help the taxpayers.  Mr. Yocom suggested the benefits would be similar to those associated with hospitals and mental institutions.  Dr. Comeaux suggested the focus be changed to something like an adult daycare center. She passed out information from Met Life Mature Market Institute showing an increase nationwide in Adult Day Care Services.  She also mentioned that 10 years ago, her son was the only autistic student out of four area schools. Now there are closer to 13 to 15 students.  Dr. Comeaux believed there will be a need in the future for Adult Day Care Services in Sabine County.  She has found that some Adult Day Care Services are offered from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This allows family members to maintain their jobs and know that their loved ones are being well taken care of.  Mr. Barnett thought that the idea of Adult Day Care Services in Sabine County is great and there definitely is a need.  Mr. Yocom asked Dr. Comeaux to spearhead the research on the idea of an Adult Day Care Service Center. Mr. Yocom asked that this item be added to next month’s agenda. No action taken.

XV.	No closed session was necessary.  

XVI.	Board Member Comments:

Mr. McNaughten: none
Mr. Willis: none
Dr. Comeaux: none
Mr. Barnett: December 31, 2010 will be Mr. Barnett’s last day as an active Board Member.  He will resign in order to accept a promotion with Chevron. He also mentioned he may offer names, as his potential replacement, at the next board meeting.
Mr. Keating: none
Mr. Yocom: none 

XVII.	Meeting adjourned at 6:21 pm.

_________________________________                 ___________________________________
Phil Yocom, President				Joe McNaughten, Secretary
Sabine County Hospital District			Sabine County Hospital District
Board of Directors 					Board of Directors