12 Aug 2004:  Hospital Board to Expand, Special Levy to be on November Ballot

The Columbia County Hospital Board approved and signed two resolutions at their August meeting that will be put to the District voters in November.  The first resolution is requesting to expand the board membership from three to five members.  “This expansion would allow the Board to work more effectively and give the community more representation on District issues,” Chief Executive Officer Bruce Grimshaw said.  The second resolution is requesting a special levy for Maintenance and Operations (M&O) for the District of $0.50 per $1,000 accessed value.  “Columbia County Hospital District has had financial difficulties for the past few years,” Grimshaw said.  “The District has taken some great steps in the past few months in improving the financial picture but we are a long way from being out of the woods, this levy would help in ensuring us being back in the black for 2005.”

In other business, the board discussed the next community meeting that has been scheduled for September 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Seneca Labor Camp Meeting Hall.  This meeting is a follow up from the town hall meeting that was held in April.  At the April meeting, hospital officials discussed the financial hardships and presented a turn-around plan.  This meeting will give the community a chance to hear about the changes that the District has made as well as being presented the latest on the financial position and additional improvements that they are planning for the future.  “There has been a ton of work done by the District Staff in the past four months”   “I believe we have been able to improve the quality of care provided as well as improving the customer service to our patients”  Grimshaw stated.  “This meeting will enable the community to hear the great things that our staff is doing as well as be able to voice any concerns”.

Additionally the board heard a report from Chief Operations Officer John Burns on a continued improved financial picture.  “The District has gone from losing on the average of $100,000 per month in 2003 and early 2004, to a loss of $6,500 in the month of July 2004.”  “The finances continue to improve but we still have a large hole to climb from”, Burns said, “we are making great strides”.  “The District staff is working together to find ways of doing business more efficiently and effectively.”  “We have a ways to go and we will get there”.