By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the monthly meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital Board of Trustees, the trustees heard an update on a fall prevention project from Danielle Lauzon, Clinical Safety and Quality Coordinator. She explained that each clinical department has been working on a goal to help with fall prevention, and that, overall, falls are down from 15 the previous fiscal year, to four so far this fiscal year.
“Even dietary had a project,” Lauzon said. “They put on the trays of patients identified as a fall risk, and it’s a little sticker that says ‘Call, don’t fall.’ ”
CEO Chris Stipe praised the efforts.
“It’s wonderful teamwork, and it’s working,” he said.
Stipe later explained that the hospital needs to select an auditing firm to complete the hospital’s annual audits, since the previous firm has chosen to no longer perform audits on hospitals. The trustees voted to select the firm of Eide Bailly.
Hospital Foundation Director Dennis Flanery told of the foundation’s upcoming events, including the July 9 golf tournament and the 5K color run and bingo on June 1. He added that there will be matching funds given to help with tornado recovery in Greenfield. Flanery also told of teddy bears and first aid kits that the foundation is giving out to help patients and raise awareness of the hospital’s services.
Chief Nursing Officer Sandy Atkinson shared the challenges in getting nursing shifts filled. The trustees discussed options, including offering more pay incentives for current staff to pick up shifts and increasing incentives to help get more nurses hired.
The next regular meeting of the trustees will be June 27. The public is welcome. For information on how to participate in the meeting, visit www.guthriecountyhospital.org.