’s
April 15, 2016 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
A Cent Makes Sense
SCKMC Restructures ICU
A closer look at the SCKMC sales tax initiative – Part 2 Some of the most common questions related to a ten-year, one percent sales tax for SCKMC. The tax will be voted on by the citizens of Arkansas City by mail-in ballot this May. What happens if the sales tax fails? There are other possible options for SCKMC, versus the current quasimunicipal structure, such as significantly scaling down services, selling the facility, or closing the doors. However, the City of Arkansas City, and in turn its citizens, are still responsible for the bond payment even if the hospital is no longer open or is functioning in a limited capacity. Should the sales tax fail, SCKMC will be forced to eliminate a significant number of staff and reduce healthcare services. In addition, the City of Arkansas City has stated they will be forced to consider an increase in property tax (between 10-40 mills) along with cuts in local services. If the City were to be able to find a buyer for the hospital, it would likely be for pennies on the dollar and the City would remain responsible for the remaining bond debt. In addition, the organization would likely be transformed into a for-profit model, potentially limiting both local services and input.
When hospital officials stood before the City Commission in February they presented several cost reducing measures as a result of failing to make the payment for the construction bond of the hospital. One of the items listed at that time was “restructure of advanced care services.” Earlier this week SCKMC enacted its plan to restructure both the hospital’s intensive care and step down units. In a statement released to all hospital staff, SCKMC Chief Executive Officer Virgil Watson stated that the changes were a result of a “history of underutilization” with the department unoccupied 91% of the year. “We are currently evaluating options for developing elective ICU care and step-down models, based upon past utilization trends and the organization’s current financial position. All ICU staff have been offered other positions within the organization,” Watson said. With the new format all patients who present to SCKMC requiring critical care will be transferred to accepting facilities. Scheduled events, such as post-operative surgical patients, will still be provided care through the ICU, and “step down” care patients will be admitted through the medical surgical department. The medical center’s administrative staff see this as a step in the right direction for a facility that has failed to break even for several years. However, it could be a step that is eventually reversed should the need for local advanced care services increase. A need that Watson believes could be impacted by the arrival of internal medicine and cardiology physician, Dr. Willie Posey. Dr. Posey began practicing at SCKMC less than one month ago. “The addition of Dr. Posey to the medical staff brings the potential for increased patient volume, and fresh insight into our current in-house hurdles which lead to patient transfers. Unfortunately, there are no easy options. However, by working together we can ultimately develop a program that benefits our community, limits transfers to outside facilities, and provides a sustainable care model to the organization as we go forward,” Watson said.
Auxiliary Recognizes Top Volunteers The SCKMC Annual Auxiliary Awards Luncheon was held on Tuesday. Members are recognized with certificates or lapel pins depending upon the number of hours volunteered throughout the year. Watson presented the awards. Members receiving certificates were Alice Anzelmo, Dee Dee Moore, Marilyn Stout, Judi Groves, Joyce Robinson. Members volunteering 100 hours of service to the hospital: Jan Bartel, Linda Humiston, Sallie McVay, Rebecca Gilmore, Neil Jensen, Donna Rindt, Anita Green, Fern Knocke, Maxine Soule, Gary Humiston. Members volunteering 200 hours of service to the hospital: Judy Day Trenary, Sue Kruger, Joan Siedel, Betty Johnson, Myrna Merz, Jackie Shafer, Mildred Johnston, Elrea Mullen, Colleen Taylor, Bud Kendrick, Neal Paisley, Deloris Walker, Connie Kimsey, Jody Rahn, Kathleen Walker Members volunteering 300 hours of service to the hospital: Mary Akers, Dee Ann Goodson, Sharon Shelton, JoAnn Baker, Kay Kennedy, Sara Ward, Helen Bossi, Sue Killman, Judy Wampler, Betty Givens, Myrtle Posey. Gloria Hull was recognized for volunteering 400 hours. Rose Anstine, Leslie Sherman, Marilyn Tracy volunteered 500 hours of service. Marty Nuckols was recognized for volunteering 1,200 hours of service to SCKMC in 2015.
The Pharm Forum with Homer Mah, D.Ph. On April 30, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place at two local stores. According to the DEA's Office of Diversion Control website, Wal-Mart in both Ark City and Winfield will host a drug take back site from 10am until 2pm. This event is intended to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused medications.
If you are a registered voter who lives within the city limits of Arkansas City, you will receive a mail ballot around May 4. It will ask the following question: Shall the City of Arkansas City be authorized to impose a one-percent (1%) Citywide retailers’ special-purpose sales tax (the “SCKMC Sales Tax”), the proceeds of which will be applied only for payment of debt service previously incurred to construct and equip South Central Kansas Medical Center (“SCKMC”), to commence on October 1, 2016, and expiring ten (10) years after its commencement? If you do not want to see a reduction or elimination of local healthcare services, along with your property taxes increased, please vote YES to this one-cent, 10-year sales tax and return your ballot to the Cowley County Clerk’s Office in Winfield by May 24.
How much is 1%? The median household income in Ark City is $37,139 with annual taxable purchases averaging $8,231. One-percent of those taxable purchases is $82 per year, or $6.84 per month. That equates to an increase for the majority of Arkansas City HOUSEHOLDS of approximately
23¢ A DAY PER FAMILY
Give the Gift of Health Only twenty-three cents per day to support healthcare services locally and prevent an increase in property tax.
Vote to Support Our Local Hospital And to Prevent Higher Property Taxes!
We are 6401 Patterson Parkway, Arkansas City 6401 Patterson Parkway, Arkansas City
www.sckmc.org
(620) 442-2500