The results of a recent staff satisfaction survey highlighted conversations during the Flint Hills Community Health Center’s Board of Directors meeting Tuesday.
For the most part, an uptick in positive responses across eight fields was indicated through this year’s survey. Health Center CEO Renee Hively says this year’s survey was a massive improvement compared to the 2018 survey.
Hively says communication will be a major focus for the health center moving forward into next year and they are currently working with their culture club to devise strategies to help get information out in a more timely manner.
Hively adds, she believes a contributing factor to the rise in staff satisfaction has to do in part with the financial improvement they have seen throughout the past year.
Once the survey report concluded, the board entered into an executive session where they formally approved the budget for 2020. Details were not announced during the meeting and are currently pending.
Other conversations Tuesday focused on the proposal of a new $20 fee for patients who no show appointments with no prior notice or communication with the health center. Before the proposed fee, the health center simply would send out a letter to no show patients which has been proven to be ineffective in reducing the number of no shows for the health center.
The $20 fee is relatively low compared to other medical providers who carry an average fee between $30-50 for the same purpose. The fee was proposed as a way to help the health center hold patients accountable while continuing correspondence with them at the same time.
In other business, the November financial report indicated a roughly $74,000 net loss for the health center. Cash on hand decreased slightly to 59.49 days while revenues came in nearly $80,000 under budget at $748,000.
The Board of Directors will hold their first meeting of 2020 on Jan. 28 at noon inside the health center’s Havenhill Conference Room.
