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Bowdle Healthcare Center reports mixed finances; council adopts revised drug‑free hiring policy
Summary
At the Aug. 5 Bowdle council meeting, Healthcare Administrator Kirby Kleffman presented June financials showing a monthly facility profit but losses in the Nursing Home and Clinic. Council adopted a revised drug‑free hiring policy requiring applicants who test positive for marijuana to present a cannabis card before starting work.
Kirby Kleffman, healthcare administrator for the Bowdle Healthcare Center, presented the facility’s June financial statements at the Aug. 5 City of Bowdle council meeting. Kleffman reported a facility‑wide profit for the month of $366,480 and a year‑to‑date profit of $326,349; the Hospital segment showed a monthly profit of $437,787 and a YTD profit of $738,127, while the Nursing Home and Clinic reported monthly losses of $37,882 and $33,425, respectively, with corresponding YTD losses of $202,444 and $209,334.
Kleffman also summarized operational statistics: acute patient days were down compared with the previous year, swing‑bed days were up, and outpatient and clinic visits increased (clinic visits up by about 300 YTD). He presented personnel changes for July—including hires, status changes and longevity wage adjustments—and asked the council to approve several administrative items.
The council adopted a revised drug‑free workplace policy for the Healthcare Center that requires applicants who test positive for marijuana to supply the Healthcare Center with a copy of their marijuana card prior to beginning employment. The policy change was approved by motion (mover: Mike Gunderson; second: Rex Gab) and recorded as unanimous in the minutes. The council also approved declaring an older ultrasound machine surplus with no appraisal required (motion by Darryn Barnhardt; second by Mike Gunderson; unanimous).
Kleffman told the council he discussed VA reimbursement rates with U.S. Senator John Thune and said the senator indicated similar reimbursement concerns were occurring across the state. Following that item the council held a Bowdle Healthcare Center executive session from 7:32 to 7:58 p.m.; the minutes record that no motions resulted from the executive session.
The Healthcare Foundation reported board changes: Joell Bieber was named secretary/treasurer, Lindsey Fuller and Marjean Gab joined the foundation, and Wayne Washenberger resigned. The council approved payment of the Healthcare Center’s July claims, which included payroll, insurance and vendor payments detailed in the minutes.
Next steps noted in the minutes: routine payment processing and continued monitoring of operating segments; the Healthcare Center will proceed under the revised drug‑free hiring policy and move forward with equipment disposition as approved by the council.
