Banner to request additional funding

Banner Churchill Community Hospital will be requesting $10 million in additional funding in December after county commissioners heard a presentation at last week’s meeting.

Chief Executive Officer Hoyt Skabelund gave a presentation on Banner Churchill’s progress in several categories before the commission, including several commendations the hospital has received.

Commissioners listened to the presentation but did not act.

One notable commendation Skabelund cited was that the hospital made the National Immunize Honor roll for its efforts to have all staff receive the flu vaccine. Skabelund said Banner Churchill was only one of four hospitals in Nevada to have made that honor roll, and that the hospital has sponsored two free flu vaccination clinics in the past year since Churchill County has “trailed in the state in flu immunization” and claimed very high rates absenteeism in the schools over the last year. “Our hospital auxiliary donated over $9,000 to purchase much of that vaccination,” Skabelund said, “and we donated to banner for a remainder of that and had great turnouts.”

The hospital will be hosting another clinic in January as well as one in Fernley in the coming weeks.

This year also marks the third year that Banner Churchill has received the Silver Syringe award for patient care.

In discussing improvements in staffing, Skabelund included that the hospital has filled one of its internal medicine positions as well as two family medicine positions.

The hospital also opened sleep services at hospital in October, and is one of first hospitals in Nevada to bring 3D digital angiography for women’s health. The hospital also featured its first podiatric surgery in eight years, and will be reintroducing cataract surgery, ordering new telemedicine equipment, new bone density scanners, remodeling their x-ray departments, and will be using $75,000 from auxiliary funds to renovate labor and infirmary rooms for women’s care.

Other important business discussed at the meeting included the following:

Old business: Motion passed unanimously on the approval of an agreement with IQ Technology Solutions, LLC to provide IT managed services to Churchill County.

Motion passed unanimously on a letter of support for reappointment of Churchill County representatives to serve on the State Lande Use Advisory Committee (SLUPAC). Appointments: Motion passed unanimously to renew the agreement with L/P Insurance for insurance consulting services.