Chief Nursing Officer at Cedar County Hospital Dixie Flynn told the hospital’s board trustees on Monday, June 18, that “we’re in a full court press on phase out of in-patient obstetrical services on July 13.” She emphasized that care will be provided in the ER for a baby that is born there, an event that might occur if there isn’t time to get to the mother’s OBGYN.

“Our staff is trained to do this,” she said, ”We have a labor and delivery skill checklist. Every nurse has to have a 100% review. There will be a nurse for the mom and a nurse for the baby.”

She said that the hospital had contacted 15 other hospitals in the state that had discontinued their OB departments and asked what equipment was needed in ER for the precipitous births. Only one had a fetal heart monitor and one had a portable ultra sound. Equipment needed for the births in ER are Doppler (an instrument used to detect the baby’s heart tones), precipitous delivery pack, infant warmer, container with birth certificate information/foot printer/ identa-bracelets.

She also mentioned that the Operating Room would go off-call on July 13.

All board members were present – Dave Studer, Cheri Allison, Jan Neale, Johnny Walker and Judy Renn -presiding. Also present were Flynn, Hospital CEO Jana Witt, Board Secretary Terri Heitz and Attorney Bryan Breckenridge.

Witt said that the hospital’s clinics would continue to do pregnancy screenings and referrals.

Witt reported that the revenues were up $439,000 over the same time last year. She also said that the Hospital Auxiliary was purchasing a wound chair and a dietary cart for the hospital.

Witt said that the hospital had received $2,500 from the Hazel and Cecil Bolander Trust. She said that when the trust was set up about 30 years ago the money was to be used for a fountain for the hospital grounds, however, the money could be used for anything that the hospital needs.

The board voted to purchase a refurbished treadmill for the Stockton Health Clinic.

Last month, the board heard from Josh Wilks, CPA, with CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP. He gave the hospital an unqualified clean opinion. He was very complimentary to CCMH and the cooperation they received from Gilbert and Witt and the rest of the staff during the audit process.

Witt told the board that the CCMH Auxiliary Salad luncheon in May showed a net profit of $3,518.