Two Internal Medicine Doctors Join PMC Staff

County Commissioners Schnabel, Millbrand, PMC Board Chairman Jan Hall, and Commissioner Joe Marble

Doctors Jeniffer Chiu and Camillo Franklyn have been hired by Prowers Medical Center.  Dr. Chiu will begin her practice on Monday, August 29 and Dr. Franklyn will begin on September 1.  The hospital has been actively searching for additional specialty physicians, midlevel family practitioners and a family practice/obstetric physician.  A recruitment search is also underway to replace Maxine Montano as Chief Clinical Officer. 

The PMC board voted to approve an Educational Assistance Request from Chelsie Willhoit and a revised request from Krista Currell , during its monthly director meeting on Wednesday, August 24.  PMC will help fund various medical educational programs in return for a contract-to-work agreement upon completion of the selected courses of the candidates. 

Medical Staff Credentials were approved by the board for Drs. Chiu and Franklyn, as well as Dr. Wayne Hudson for Family Practice, Dr. James Pagel in a courtesy capacity for sleep studies and Mr. Marlow Macht for a consultive position in the emergency room. 

The Prowers Medical Center Foundation has received its 501©3 non-profit designation from the Internal Revenue Service, according to Fairchild and Foundation executive director Mike Bryant.  This act clears the way for an active fund raising program for the hospital.  The Foundation’s purpose is to lend financial support and raise funds for Prowers Medical Center and its clinics.  The IRS status now allows contributions to the Foundation to become tax deductible.  Regarding hospital finances, interim CFO Audrey Kane reported that July had a net income of $118,050, against a budget expectation of $119,486.  Net patient revenues were $1,871,004 which is under budget by $479,828.  Cash at month end was $5,710,451 which is an increase of $1,091,761 from the previous month.  This represents 102 days of cash on hand, a 19 day increase over the previous month.  CEO Fairchild said earlier that this is a target area of day’s cash on hand the hospital hopes to maintain.  He explained that there may be as much as a two month lag time on payments made to the hospital from Medicaid.  That amount of cash on hand acts as a financial safety net for bills and payroll at PMC. 

As of Thursday, August 25, the hospital cafeteria and dining room was closed until September 5.  A new epoxy floor will replace the current one, which according to CEO James Fairchild had begun cracking and aging to the point where it could have become a health issue.  He said the new floor will be a poured epoxy material which is skid-free and offers resiliency to the work staff, as opposed to a hard surface.  The Food Services department will work out of the dining room during the project.  Patients will still receive their meals, but from a limited menu.  

The Prowers County Commissioners were given a power point presentation  about the hospital  on Thursday, August 25, to recognize Safety Net Clinic Week 2011.  CEO Fairchild briefed the commissioners on the latest developments at PMC including the hiring of the two new doctors and plans for cardio and pulmonary outreach programs.  The hospital deals with those two medical needs areas more than any others.  Fairchild also provided figures on growth areas at the hospital, including the Convenient Care Clinic, mostly responsible for lowering costly visits to the emergency room last year by 1,000 patients.  Fairchild said the Holly Rural Clinic is available weekdays and a grant is still pending for the ATM-type medications dispenser this fall.  This past summer, PMC also became the primary care provider for the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and can provide treatment for up to 2,000 veterans in the seven county region.

By Russ Baldwin