CentraCare Health in Monticello is making big strides to provide better services to the community.

 

That was the message during last week’s annual meeting of the hospital board.

 

During the hospital’s performance review, Hospital Administrator Mary Ellen Wells gave an update on new providers, programs, funding and capital improvements.

 

The new providers include: Abby LaBounty (family medicine); Nader Ailabouni (family medicine); Jessica Hodson DO, (family medicine); Bobby Kansara (otho); Tulasi Gummadi medical oncology); Amy Dearking (ENT); Andrew Windsperger MD; Elizabeth Phillips (urology); Vivian Rider (pediatrics); Jun Herrera physical medicine & rehabilitation); Christine Dietrich CNP; Shelly Neiman CNP, Kelsey King CNP; Kristy Peterfeso CNP and Dr. Brian Rupert received training in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen and now practices part time in the Wound Center.

 

Wells said cardiology services are now provided five days a week and nephrology services are available on campus twice a month.

 

She said the community is very pleased with the services in the emergency room.

 

“Patient satisfaction and service scores for our emergency room are literally off the chart. We are in the 98 to 99 percentile in the country for like hospitals for satisfaction,” she said.

 

“I give our staff, our physicians, our nurses and support staff a tremendous amount of credit.”

 

The hospital recently completed a Joint Commission Accreditation, covering the next three years.

 

“So we’re good to go for a few more years,” said Wells, “and our care center is now in the top 10% in the state with a five-star rating.”

 

The 2016 capital budget for fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) is $4.8 million. That covers a number of projects for 2015-2016, including $450,000 for a boiler upgrade, $450,00 for a roof replacement, $670,000 for a linear accelerator in the cancer center, $189,000 for a north wing remodel in the Care Center, $148,000 for an ambulance, $100,000 for the Spiritual Center, $200,000 for inpatient beds, $391,000 for imaging upgrades, $470,000 to purchase surgery equipment, $76,000 to complete the Healing Garden and $200,000 to purchase the former Big Lake police building for ambulance headquarters.

 

Michelle Redding was hired recently as the new development director for CentraCare Monticello.

 

Employee campaigns have raised $84,000 and contributed funds to Backpack Buddies, Project H.E.A.L., Rivers of Hope, the Spiritual Center and Care Center.

 

Director of Finance Kris Hammer said the hospital had an operating gain of $1.6 million compared to $1.1 million last year.

 

“That left us with a 2.5% operating margin,” she said  “So clearly, we’re headed in the right direction.”

 

Gary Anderst,  regional chief financial officer for CentraCare, said the hospital had a clean audit for the past year and finances are strong. CentraCare refunded almost $5.4 million in Series 2003C bonds and had significant savings. 

 

“We were able to go out into the market and get a good rate of 3.1%,” he said. “That saved interest over $700,000 over the life of the bonds. Those are dollars we can reinvest into our operations.”

 

In other business, Nancy Friesen was sworn in as the newest hospital board member and Brian Doyle was voted in as secretary/clerk, replacing Candy Benoit, who resigned in June.