East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

POMEROY–The Garfield County Hospital District Board of Commissioners (GCHD) discussed an imaging suite project, a cybersecurity incident, and their dialysis program at their meeting on March 4.

The proposed imaging suite project would place a suite where the rose garden is now that would be used for CT scanning, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Garfield County Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Washington State that does not have a CT scanner. The CT scan is important for treating stokes, concussions, and making diagnoses. In the past few months the Hospital providers ordered 196 CT scans, with an estimated 96 coming from the emergency room. Constructing an imaging suite will enable patients to receive CT scans and eliminate time taken to travel to other hospitals that do have a scanner. The proposed suite is expected to provide an estimated $730,000 additional yearly income to the Hospital, assisting a great deal with financial stability.

The suite construction is estimated to cost 3.5 million dollars. GCHD is applying for congressionally directed funding of 2-2.5 million through the Congressional Senator and Representatives offices, as well as grants. The commissioners approved a $4,000 monthly retainer for the Johnston Group, an association that will take care of filing paperwork and lobbying. The Group will be retained on a month-to-month basis. The commissioners also approved payment of $40,000 for engineering and design for the project, which is 20% of the expected total cost. The engineering will be done by MW Engineering and the design by Blue Room Architecture & Design. The GCHD also committed to work with Siemens as supplier for the CT scanner and an upgraded X-ray machine. If the time comes to purchase the machines, the District will purchase them from Siemens at $470,093, with a $59,459 service charge.

A cybersecurity incident with Change Healthcare has impacted receivables on 87 claims currently being processed by GCHD. The connections are being monitored.

The dialysis program is holding true to its scheduled go-live date of April 1. The equipment has arrived and eight rooms will have a dialysis set-up installed.

GCHD also passed Resolution 24-01, listing a used ice bin with an $800 dollar estimated value and a dishwasher with no value as surplus property.