A recommendation by the Murray-Calloway County Hospital administration to allow for the use of tobacco products by hospital patients, visitors and employees has been delegated to a committee for further study by the MCCH Board of Trustees.
The topic originally came up during a meeting of the personnel committee Tuesday afternoon. John Wilson, vice president of human resources, presented the committee a report comparing the hospital’s existing tobacco-free policy to standards set by the Joint Commission, a national hospital accreditation group.
According to Wilson, a portion of MCCH’s policy is not in line with the Joint Commission, something that may turn into a black mark when it comes time for the group to re-evaluate the hospital. The Joint Commission standard reads if a hospital restricts tobacco use but allows exceptions, a designated area must be included in the policy. While MCCH allows an exception for patients to smoke on outdoor hospital grounds, there is no designated area in hospital policy.
Wilson presented two options to the committee to get into compliance. First, he said the hospital could simply modify the existing policy to remove any exceptions. Second, they could designate a smoking area and build a small shelter. There was some discussion over cost, location and how to handle visitors and employees, who would not be permitted to use the shelter. Wilson said visitors especially would be hard to enforce.
Hospital employees are currently allowed to smoke off-campus during non-paid lunch time. Normal breaks are not included because they are considered paid time. However, committee members noted there seems to be little enforcement of the policy, including at the Spring Creek Health Care facility. It was noted how many employees will cross busy streets or stand close to traffic, creating potential hazards.
“I think, as an institution, we have been poor neighbors,” said board chair Dr. Sandra Parks.
Interim CEO Brad Bloemer explained the administration’s formal recommendation included visitors and employees. The location at MCCH would be in the graveled area next to the Emergency Room in the South Tower. At Spring Creek, patients would be allowed to smoke at Station 2 and employees would go to an alternative location yet to be determined.
Dr. Rob Williams, chief of staff and member of the board and personnel committee, questioned the timeline and rush to get something done. Williams said it needed to happen quickly because of the Joint Commission, which will begin review of MCCH at some point in the future. Parks moved to accept the recommendation and send it to the full board for discussion and Dr. Burton Young seconded. Parks, Young and Murray Mayor Bill Wells voted yes, Williams voted no and Calloway County Judge-Executive Larry Elkins abstained.
In Wednesday’s full board meeting, Wilson presented the recommendation for discussion. Elkins asked if the issue had come up because of a policy change by the Joint Commission, but Wilson said it had been that way from the beginning but had never been noticed. Williams questioned the design and cost of the shelter itself, saying his concern was in giving approval to something that hasn’t been properly researched.
“The only current issue is, in the Joint Commission, it hasn’t come up before,” Williams said. “We don’t want to be in a hurry.”
The enforcement of the policy was brought up again, given the high number of employees that can be seen on the street smoking.
“It’s upsetting to me to see our employees sitting on the street smoking. I don’t want them to think we are encouraging smoking but on the other hand it’s a good idea to confine it,” said board vice chair Steve Owens.
When discussion turned to specifics of the shelter itself, some movement was made toward attempting to pass a temporary measure to try and come into compliance quickly and return to the issue at a later date. No motion was made, and board member David Garrison asked if it would be better delegated to a committee for further review. Williams, Young and Hal Kemp volunteered to serve on the committee and the motion passed unanimously by the board. The committee will also include members of the administration team, yet to be determined. Young said they would plan to bring findings to next month’s board meeting.
The hospital posted a strong financial result for January, with nearly $1 million in operational income and a total of $779,000 in net income.
“We continue to do very well,” Bloemer said. “It was the best month in several years. We’ve come a long way in the last two months and are up in just about every area in the hospital.”
Bloemer cited salary expense as having a large impact, which were just over $250,000 below budget. He said the staff has been doing a very good job of monitoring productivity. Another factor in the good month is a high daily census averaging 94. Numerous days have seen the hospital at or near capacity. While January is what Bloemer calls the “heart of the business season,” he said results were still exceptional.
Lisa Ray, vice president of patient care services, told the board they have designated two ER rooms for bed holding when the hospital is at capacity and patients are waiting. She said they can begin treatment while rooms are emptied and cleaned and it has not interfered with ER traffic or caused patient complaints so far.
In other business, the board:
• heard a complimentary report on anesthesiology from Williams, saying the facility is operated smoothly and with more local employees and less that travel in,
• heard an update on the upcoming half marathon from Keith Travis, vice president of physician development. Travis said more than 350 people have registered for the April 16 event and he expects an estimated 350 more,
• heard no recommendations from the Board Office Nominating Committee. Parks said the committee was not prepared to make a nomination but may do so at the next meeting, and
• held an executive session for personnel matters.
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