HCHD Meets Twice Last Week

FY 2019 Budget Approved

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – The Houston County Hospital District met in a pair of meetings last week. The first meeting was their regular monthly meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 18 (the third Tuesday of the month) while the second was special called meeting on Thursday, Sept. 20 to approve the budget.

The first meeting was called to order by HCHD Board President Dr. Bob Grier at 5:30 p.m. and immediately after the invocation the board approved the minutes of previous board meetings held on Aug. 21 and Sept. 11.

The approval of minutes was followed by the approval of the August financial statements as presented by Dick Murchison.

Once Murchison concluded, the HCHD Board was given a presentation by Dr. Nancy Dickey with the Texas A&M Medical School.

Dr. Dickey is the executive director of the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI).

The mission of ARCHI is to improve access to healthcare and reduce disparities in health status and outcomes by improving the quality and safety of healthcare. ARCHI serves in a consultative role with hospitals and communities across the state of Texas to facilitate best practices in patient safety, enhanced quality of care, and physician excellence,” her bio on the A&M website states.

β€œThe Institute was created during her time of leadership at the Health Science Center and exemplifies the importance of translating sound policy into practice not only in traditional academic health centers but across the spectrum of practice sites and care delivery,” according to the website.

After a lengthy Q&A session with Dickey, the board moved on to actionable items. The first order of business was the approval of D&O (Directors and Officers) insurance.

D&O liability insurance protects the personal assets of corporate directors and officers, and their spouses, in the event they are personally sued by employees, vendors, competitors, investors, customers, or other parties, for actual or alleged wrongful acts in managing a company.

The next item addressed concerned the amending of the FY 2018 budget. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to amend the budget.

Next, Grier informed the board financial agreements with Crockett Medical Center (CMC) were still being discussed in regard to expenses, utilities and other various matters.

As the meeting continued, the board president said the HCHD had a chance to purchase a mammogram machine through a grant obtained by the city of Crockett. Grier said the two doctors who founded CMC, Dr. Kelly Tjelmeland and Dr. Subir Chikara had agreed to pay half of the $17,000 in matching funds, if the HCHD would pick up the other half.

Following several minutes of discussion, the matter was tabled.

During the meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 20, the HCHD board approved the purchase of the mammogram machine.

In other matters brought before the HCHD Board:

  • Updates on the ambulance service and negotiations with ETMC were provided.
  • A balanced budget for FY 2019 was approved by the board.

 

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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