HMH Board of Directors approve raises for CEO, CFO and CNO

During the monthly meeting of the Howard Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, CEO Debra Wright reported HMH has performed 1,391 COVID-19 tests. She said 129 were positive. 80 employees have been tested and 10 were positive.

Wright gave a report on several modifications to the building. She said the quote to convert three emergency department rooms to negative pressure was $37,740. Wright said they will use stimulus funds to pay for the project. Wright said the quote to replace the sliding glass doors on 6 ED rooms with solid doors with Plexiglas windows was $25,853. And, the quote to replace the doors at the East Wing entrance of the Patient Care Unit was $2,850.

Wright reported the Executive Team would like to purse grants to help provide inpatient telehealth.

Wright said HMH received $2,926,888 in Advanced and Accelerated Payments from CMS with assistance from Senator Boozman and Senator Cotton.

The 2020 Foundation gala netted $66,000 and the proceeds will be used to purchase an anesthesia machine and cardiac monitor for the surgical services department. And, the pink ladies have agreed to help purchase five wheelchairs.

Board members also approved a recommendation from the hospital’s Executive Team to not provide a matching deposit in the employees retirement accounts. However, following an executive session, board members approved a 3.8 percent raise for the CEO and CNO and a 4 percent raise for the CFO.