News
»Will bottom line at Bennett Co. Hospital cause it to flat line
Posted Local at Jun 01, 2011
By Tim Huether
According to state and local officials, the Bennett County Hospital, including the emergency room, were nearly shut down recently, and if not for the state stepping in, the doors would likely be closed.
According to state officials, the governor and the department of social services helped secure a $75,000 grant to help make payroll for May.
“The state department of health has been in discussions with governor Daugaard and his advisors and they can’t emphasize enough the serious condition of the Bennett County Hospital,” said Gail Gray. “The governor is very concerned and wants to do what they can do to help.”
Gray, from the South Dakota Department of Health, was in Martin last week, offering assistance to the hospital administration and board and visiting with the community leaders. She said those in Pierre have been impressed with the Bennett County Hospital and its board and their efforts to keep the facility going.
“There is no question on the quality of services provided or the quality of the staff,” said Gray. “The ER (Emergency Room) is heavily utilized, there’s just not enough revenue coming in. IHS has not been able to pay for services, except for a few Priority One services. We’ve met with tribal leaders and they are also concerned about the Bennett County hospital closing as well.”
With the County also in a financial shortfall, compounded by a high number of untaxed acres, the revenues are not there from other sources.
“The bottom line with the hospital is, they were unable to meet payroll,” said Gray in explaining why the hospital was near closing the doors. “We’ve never seen this happen. The $75,000 grant came from the Department of Social Services, with help from the governor, but it is a band-aid.”
According to Gray, Hospital Administrator George Minder and board members contacted the governor’s office about the problem and the state responded. Staff was sent here to help at their request, not take over or shut the facility down. The Department of Health is looking at the fiscal situation and looking at what can be done and the hospital board welcomed this.
“We were sent in to get a perspective and I can tell you, if this facility is going to be saved, it is going to take a lot of people,” suggested Gray.
She pointed out the situation is for the hospital only, that the Nursing Home can operate independently even if the hospital closes.
“I met with county commissioners, the hospital board, hospital personnel, LaCreek District representatives and local leaders to get a community perspective on how important and what health care needs are,” Gray added. “We’re also looking at the economic impact it will have and the governor is also concerned about how closing the hospital will affect the local economy.”
Gray said they will be meeting soon with health officials in Pine Ridge.
“The census is up and the numbers are good for this facility, but it is a perfect storm analogy,” remarked Gray.
The department of social sees this as a unique situation with unique needs.
Gray said the public is urged to help in any way and may contact her at 605-343-4595 or on her cell phone at 605-430-5082, or contact hospital administrator George Minder at 605-685-6622, ext. 140.
“The public needs to understand the severity of the situation,” said Gray. “The governor recognizes it and is going out on a limb to help keep it open.”