Vaccinations against COVID-19 are now mandatory for all staff, providers and even board members of Flint Hills Community Health Center.
The FHCHC Board of Directors approved the mandatory vaccine policy during its monthly meeting Tuesday. The policy essentially ensures the health center’s compliance with the federal vaccine mandate issued by President Joe Biden.
FHCHC CEO Renee Hively says the policy will mean vaccinations are now required for anyone who works in, contracts with or provides services within the health center. As she has stated on numerous occasions since the announcement of the mandate in September, Hively stated if they had the choice they would not enact such a policy.
However; due to the consequences of non-compliance, there was no other choice.
Staff will be able to apply for medical or religious exemptions from the policy, however, Hively says FHCHC already has a 96 percent vaccination rate amongst staff and feels all staff will be fully vaccinated ahead of the mandate’s Jan. 4 deadline. Hively adds, that mandatory vaccination will also be made a condition of employment for anyone seeking to work at FHCHC for the foreseeable future.
In other business, the board voted on a new name for the health center as part of a rebranding effort which has been ongoing as part of the health center’s five-year strategic plan. Hively says the effort comes as the health center has been working for some time to better distinguish itself from similar health facilities in the region.
Hively says there is no definitive date for when the new name and imagery will be released to the public, however, she anticipates it will likely be sometime in the next calendar year.
Separately, the health center saw another net gain for the month of October according to the monthly financial report. FHCHC boasted a $33,000 gain which was more favorable then original projections. The year-to-date net gain now stands at nearly $585,000 with days cash on hand decreasing slightly to 157 days.
The report came just before the board approved the 2022 fiscal year which totals $10 million.
The FHCHC Board of directors will convene for their final meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at noon inside the Havenhill Conference Room and via Zoom.
