Newman Regional Health CEO Cathy Pimple says the hospital is set to take a significant step forward later this year when it comes to its staffing.
Pimple says the hospital is “in a great spot” when it comes to overall staffing, especially when it comes to nurses. She says Newman Regional Health is no longer “in crisis staffing.”
Going “agency-free” means an end to contract labor, which was heavily needed during the COVID-19 pandemic at a significant cost to the hospital. Chief Financial Officer Holly French says a reduction in contract labor last year had significant budget impacts.
Comments from Pimple and French follow the hospital Board of Trustees’ monthly meeting Wednesday. Board members gave their annual approval for a range of policies during their consent agenda. Board members also received the monthly financial report, which included a positive report for February as net income was almost $58,000 — favorable to budget by over $150,000 but unfavorable to 2023 by over $370,000. The year-to-date report wasn’t as promising, with a net loss of over $620,000, unfavorable to budget by $70,000 and 2023 by over $715,000.
Separately, Newman Regional Health is less than a month away from starting its facilitated conversations with representatives of Stormont-Vail Health. The process will begin in mid-April. Stormont-Vail has announced plans for a new $32 million medical facility in Emporia, while Newman Regional has countered by submitting a list of zoning code text changes designed to add extra layers of local oversight for outside medical entities while protecting the hospital’s financial interests. The Planning Commission moved Newman Regional’s proposal to the City Commission without any recommendation on how to proceed. City commissioners likely won’t take action until the mediation process is finished.
