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Administrator reports new manager hire, robotic companion grant and EHR vendor pricing
Summary
Administrator reported hiring a new CVRF manager and multiple clinical staff, described a state grant to supply robotic companion animals for dementia support, and said the vendor Matrix offered EHR pricing and interoperability with major systems; staff will seek board approval to implement before current system sunsets on Dec. 31.
Speaker 6, the facility administrator, told the committee the facility hired a new CVRF manager, Natalie Turner, who is expected to start on July 29, and that the facility has added seven certified nursing assistants and three nurses to its roster.
The administrator described a state grant program identified in the meeting as the "Furry Friends" project, administered through a vendor the transcript calls Ageless Intervention, which would provide robotic dogs or cats (up to 28 units at no cost) to residents as an intervention for dementia-related agitation and depression. Speaker 6 said staff must submit the grant application by September for potential delivery in January 2025 and that the vendor maintains the devices under the grant terms.
On electronic health records, Speaker 6 said the Matrix vendor offered pricing that would hold current costs for the first two years and that Matrix can interface with major hospital systems (the presenter cited Epic as an example). Staff said they had sent materials to Mike and Larry and hoped to present the RFP and contract to the board in September to be ready before the current vendor’s services end on Dec. 31.
Speaker 4 and Speaker 6 discussed limitations in record transfers if partner systems are not connected; the transcript records Speaker 2 noting that "Richland Hospital cannot talk to universities," to which staff responded Matrix should be able to accept and download files when interoperability is available.
The administrator also described multiple in-house training efforts (bus driver certification, safety training and medication training) and workforce incentives, including a state "WisCare" hiring incentive that would pay facilities and employees for recruiting and training resident-assistant staff.
Staff recommended returning to the board in September with a recommendation on the EHR purchase and implementation timetable.
