DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center Operating Board of Directors met May 13.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Due to COVID-19, this Meeting was held as a Virtual Public Meeting

The Operating Board met virtually in regular session through a cloud-based, peer-to-peer software platform called Zoom.

Note: These minutes are not official until approved by the Rehab & Nursing Operating Board at a subsequent meeting. Please refer to the meeting minutes when these minutes are approved to obtain any changes to these minutes.

Present Directors: Pat Conboy, Greg Millburg, Rita Nielsen, Chris Porterfield Jeff Whelan, Ferald Bryan, Steve Kuhn. Kuhn left the meeting at 8:00 a.m.

Absent Directors: None

Also Present: Gary Hanson, Scott Gima, Steve Duchene

Jeff Whelan called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m.

Motion: Chris Porterfield moved to approve the agenda. Greg Millburn seconded the motion.

Voice Vote: Jeff Whelan asked for a voice vote on the approval of the agenda. All Members voted yea. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Pat Conboy moved to approve the March 11, 2020 open session minutes; Steve Kuhn seconded the motion.

Voice Vote: Jeff Whelan asked for a voice vote on the approval of the agenda. All Members voted yea. Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments: None

Old Business: None

New Business:

Finance report. Gima reviewed the financial position for December 2019. For the month, the net loss was -$426,232 and for the year, the total loss was -$1,149,125. It was an unprecedented year with low census and high agency expenses. Gima discussed the current environment where COVID has reduced hospital referrals causing continuing census issues. We await a restart of hospital elective procedures. However, as the State opens up from stay-at-home restrictions, there will be a risk of an increase in COVID infections. It is possible to see a cyclical pattern of increasing COVID infections. All facilities across the state and in the county are facing declining census issues. Gima summarized the monthly admissions and census through May.

Gima also discussed the current actions being taken to deal with COVID, including focus on keeping residents and staff safe and healthy and communication with residents and families. While there is a no visitor policy, health screening questionnaire and skin temperature checks are being conducted on all employees, agency staff and vendors. Duchene discussed community incidence of COVID-19. Reopening of the facility to visitors will probably not take place until the State gets to phase IV.

Operational Report. Duchene discussed the Pinnacle survey reports. One key area is missing personal laundry that is requiring a follow-up with the laundry service for not returning personal items that get mixed with the sheets. The GoFundMe group, “Taking Care of Our Caregivers” provided donuts to the staff last week. Gima discussed the use of the B South wing to be a quarantine unit for all new admissions. The other half of renovation work to those rooms will be postponed until a later date.

A discussion of staffing took place. Duchene discussed future plans to bring back CNA and nursing program clinical rotations to DCRNC in the fall. The COVID crisis is making it difficult to recruit new hires. Gima discussed the State’s temporary nurse aide program and potential problems that it brings to a provider. Dining issues were addressed by Duchene. Improvements are being seen. There has been some supply interruptions that were managed with substitutions. Duchene provided a construction update. Gima provided an update on the CMS five-star rating. The overall rating has increased from 1 to 2 stars due to an improvement in the staffing rating jumping from 3 to 5 stars.

Hanson addressed a question about construction financing. Financials are being reviewed by an outside consultant.

Conboy brought up the recent retirement of Linda McDowell, Director of Social Services on May 1st. He asked for the minutes to reflect the Board’s strong thanks for her years of service to the county. Duchene discussed plans for a special reception for Ms. McDowell’s retirement that will take place once DCRNC reopens to visitors.

Motion: Pat Conboy moved to have the Board express thanks to Linda McDowell and her years of service and congratulations on her well- deserved retirement approve the agenda. Chris Porterfield seconded the motion.

Voice Vote: Jeff Whelan asked for a voice vote. All Members voted yea. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Ferald Bryan moved to adjourn; Rita Nielsen seconded the motion.

Voice Vote: Jeff Whelan asked for a voice vote to adjourn which was approved unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:37 a.m.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/min20-rncmay.pdf