Schultes/Gabriel Discuss Hospital's Financial Necessities
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$ 00 Inclu1des Tax Number 36 Volume 111 Philip, South Dakota 57567 Thursday, April 27, 2017 www. pioneer-review.com Roosevelt visits elementary Schultes/Gabriel discuss hospital’s financial necessities by Del Bartels “We’ve always had months when we’ve lost money; then it would cycle back around. That changed about 16 months ago. We didn’t have enough money to make pay - roll,” stated Larry Gabriel, board vice president, about recent deci - sions made at Philip Health Serv - ices, Inc. The Philip area AARP/Retired School Personnel hosted Gabriel and Jeremy Schultes, PHSI chief of operations, as guest speakers during its public meeting at the Bad River Senior Citizen’s Center in Philip, Monday, April 24. Gabriel said a loan had been taken out at the local bank by PHSI. Still, retiring CEO Kent Olsen said a larger line of credit was needed. “I wasn’t going back to that bank without a plan,” said Gabriel. A Rapid City accounting firm was hired to advise how to cut costs. The original line of credit was all but used up when Jeremy Del Bartels Schultes came on board as the new Larry Gabriel, left, board vice president, and Jeremy Schultes, adminis - CEO. trator for Philip Health Services, Inc., discussed business decisions at the Even if the clinic, hospital, nurs - medical facility necessitated by current market and financial woes. ing home and assisted living cen - ter are full and busy, “We might make money or lose at first, many times more than record keeping was be - money, it depends on who are the patients,” said fore. “After EMR is implemented, it should not take Gabriel. The facility loses money when it gets paid as many employees,” said Schultes. His wife, Holly, Del Bartels through Medicare or Medicaid. “It always bothers me said it took her four months to get up to speed on the As a Dakota Assemblies representative for the edu - dents, Arch Ellwein portrayed Teddy Roosevelt, to make up the difference with other pay,” said cation and entertainment of local elementary stu - Thursday, April 20, in the Philip gymnasium. new system, and still what took 10 minutes before Gabriel, who compared it to ranching, “You could have EMR takes 30 minutes now. a good crop and calf year, but everything is down in by Del Bartels life, more than my father. I studied history and he - Gabriel said that PHSI’s goal is to provide health prices.” “I’m an actor. I portray Teddy Roosevelt. Thus, I roes. I wanted to grow up and be like those strong care. If that is in your home, so much the better. Schultes said, “In Philip we’ve done something I’m become Teddy Roosevelt for just a little while,” said heroes that I read about.” Roosevelt’s father hired Through its growing staff of experts, PHSI can pro - not familiar with anywhere else. The basic swing bed Arch Ellwein as he launched into a Dakota Assem - a prize-winning boxer to help with Teddy’s physical vide skilled care, and that is what surrounding med - is something we are trying to not do anymore. If some - blies program for local elementary students in the problems. Despite his asthma, Teddy actually won ical facilities look to PHSI for when needing to one is in rehabilitation, a skilled swing bed can be Philip gymnasium, Thursday, April 20. one fight, and kept the pewter cup as a valued pos - transfer patients. PHSI now uses a four-tiered pay used to take care of them until they eventually go Ellwein made it up close and personal for the au - session. system; as the level of care goes up, so do the costs. home.” Payment for somewhat independent patients dience. He climbed the bleachers and greeted indi - Roosevelt’s friends talked of an advertisement on There is a state moratorium on the number of nurs - is fairly low. Patients who need higher care and reha - viduals as classes filed in. Though he used a few a barn; Teddy could not see the advertisement, but ing home beds in the state, but not on assisted living bilitation create sustainability for PHSI. decorations and props, most of the program put him also could not see the barn. After his father got him space. “There is no way I would consider asking people Changes are allowing the Silverleaf Assisted Living for an expansion in assisted living while we were in amongst the students. History, older vocabulary his first pair of spectacles, “I never realized what I Center to take a different kind of patient. Gabriel said and exuberance rolled together, followed by an - had been missing.” dire straits. That is being taken care of now,” said his mother lived there for social reasons, eating with Gabriel. He added that therapy, including speech swering questions from the audience. Stories told An almost poetic style from Roosevelt’s view told others and playing cards. Now, residents have in - were near exact quotes from what Roosevelt wrote of life when the west was still wild, including bear therapy, is an area of expertise that PHSI can expand creased needs – diet, medications, help getting upon. Patients must come in from a greater geograph - in his 35 books. hunting. This included a hunt in which three slugs dressed, being fed, etc. PHSI needs more staff to add “First thing to realize is, Teddy Roosevelt can’t brought down a charging grizzly bear only paces ical area. “PHSI is not just Philip, not just Haakon more care and for required proponents to higher licen - County, but the greater area,” said Gabriel. see. When he had to, he wore “pince nez” (French from reaching Roosevelt. sure. Self-paying, or patients who write their own for pinch nose) eyeglasses. They had a string in case While gripping the students’ attention, Ellwein Audience members, though appreciative of having check, is approximately $3,000 per month, while the such a facility as PHSI, were upset that people who they fell off; he is very, very enthusiastic and he can used words such as “melancholy” and “obliquely.” state pays only about $1,900 per month. get excited,” explained Ellwein. One bear story was when Roosevelt refused to have donated to PHSI for decades have not been able The state pays only after the patient has depleted to get a bed at the nursing home when needed, even “He also can’t hear very well. He can’t hear in shoot an ancient bear that a guide had tied up so their own finances. Gabriel said that the Silverleaf this ear because of a serious ear infection caused by reporters could see Roosevelt shoot a bear. Roo - after many months of being on the waiting list. was meant for private pay; now the market is break - Schultes concluded, “If we have someone from out malaria. He walks with a little bit of a hitch in his sevelt did not speak very highly of reporters. “I ing the people who have spent a lifetime to create a git-along, but he is enthusiastic,” continued Ell - swear you can pick up 30 different papers and read of the area and someone from this area who need a savings. bed, we will prioritize that.” wein. In 1902, Roosevelt’s carriage was destroyed 30 different accounts,” said Ellwein as Roosevelt. The recent move of the Home Health department to by a runaway electric streetcar car. Roosevelt hid Somehow the bear was reported as a cub. Later, toy The annual PHSI membership meeting is Friday, downtown was to get around Medicare and Medicaid April 28, in the Philip Ambulance Service building, his injuries during the rest of his tour because, ac - maker Morris Michtom got Roosevelt’s permission legalities. “They were carving out some of our over - cording to Ellwein, if he could stand up he wasn’t to market “Teddy’s bear.” starting at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, though head without reimbursing us for Home Health care,” only members may vote. Membership is a one-time going to disappoint. Later, two surgeries were Ellwein told of the many offices held by Roosevelt said Gabriel. The growing rehabilitation department needed to try to stop the infection. and of his prolific authorship. Most noted, though, $100 fee. Three of the seven board seats are up for can now expand into that space. election. Charlie Ekstrum is retiring from the PHSI “Roosevelt lived in a time when there was no is the 230 million acres put into public trust as PHSI benefits from Rapid City Regional Health radio, television or computers. The only way to parks during Roosevelt’s presidency. board of directors. through visiting cardiologists, Dakota Radiology, ob - In other AARP business, the local chapter has do - know Teddy Roosevelt was to see him,” taught Ell - As Roosevelt, he said, “When you play, play hard. stetrics/gynecology, leverage in purchasing equip - wein. “When he arrives in a town by train, people When you work, don’t play at all. I have no time for nated $25 for membership to the Philip Chamber of ment, and Schultes as an administrator. “If we did it Commerce, $100 to the senior center for use of the fa - can not believe their ears. His voice is high, and the sour-face man or woman; no time. Enjoy life. Do on our own, it would cost more. The board is Schultes’ cilities, and $100 toward RSP scholarships to teachers when he gets excited it goes even higher, and he something worthwhile; serving your fellow man is boss, though Regional can weigh in with its advice,” increasing their education.