310 W Halsell
Dimmitt, Texas 79027

Phone 806-647-2191 Fax 806-647-2407

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of Castro County will hold a scheduled meeting on
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Ettie McDermitt Education Room at Plains Memorial Hospital.

Agenda
1. Call to Order- Reading of the Mission Statement
2. Public Comments
3. Review of Financials & Statistics- June 2022
b. Tax Roll for 2023
4. Election of Officers
5. CVL Room Rates
6. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of June 2, 2022 Board Minutes
b. Quarterly Review of Pledged Securities
c. Departmental P & P Approval
d. Approval of Employee Handbook
e. Interlocal Coopertive Contract for Castro County Appraisal District to Assess
and Collect Taxes for CCHD
f. Approve Organizational Chart
6. General Information
a. Department Monthly Reports
b. Thank You Notes
7. Medical Staff
a. Review June 22, 2022 & July 13, 2022 Med Staff Minutes
b. Approve Med Staff Rules & Regulations & By Laws
c. Request Appointment to Temporary ER Privileges: Scott Evans, DO; Joseph
Zadeh, MD; Roger Mason, MD
d. Request Appointment to ER Staff: Samuel Taylor, MD
e. Request Reappointment to ER Staff: Perry Reding, MD
f. Request Appointment to Consulting Radiology: Cameron Manchester, MD
g. Request Reappointment to Consulting Radiology: Branch Archer, MD; Richard
Archer, MD; Luke Lennard, MD; Robert Pinkston, MD
h. Request Appointment to TeleMed Privileges: Mohammed Bahaa Aldeen, MD;
Mazin, Saadaldin, MD
8. Conflict of Interest
9. Strategic Planning
10. Administrator’s Report
11. Executive Session
a. Quality & Regulatory Compliance
b. Personnel. Consider and Discuss Personnel Matters Pursuant to Texas
Government Code Section 511.074
12. Action on Executive Items
13. Adjournment
______________________________ ____________________
Posted by Olivia Herrera

Agenda

1. Call to Order—Reading of the Mission Statement

2. Public Comments

3. Oath of Office

4. Hart School Based Health Center Proposal

5. Review of Financials and Statistics- April 2022

6. Consent Agenda

a. Approval of March 29, 2022 & April 28, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes

b. Departmental P & P Approval

c. Quarterly Review of Pledged Securities

d. Approval for Destruction of Records

e. Organizational Chart

7. General Information

a. Department Monthly Reports

b. Thank You Notes

c. Other Reading

8. Medical Staff

a. Review of May 18, 2022 Medical Staff Minutes

b. Reappointment to ER Staff Privileges: Ewan D. Johnson, MD

c. Request Appointment to Temporary ER Privileges: Samuel Clayton Taylor, MD;

Randy Engelman, DO; Eric Gustafson, MD

d. Request Reappointment to Temporary ER Privileges: Michael Klein, MD

e. Reappointment to Consulting Radiology: James Cassuto, MD

f. Request Appointment to TeleMed Privileges: Mazin Saadaldin, MD

9. Executive Session

a. Quality & Regulatory Compliance

b. Personnel. Consider and Discuss Personnel Matters Pursuant to Texas

Government Code Section 511.074

c. Sale of Real Property Bid Package- 112 W Jones

10. Action on Executive Items

11. Adjournment

______________________________

Posted by Olivia Herrera

310 W Halsell  PO Box 278

Dimmitt, Texas 79027

Phone 806-647-2191    Fax 806-647-2407

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of Castro County will hold a scheduled meeting on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Ettie McDermitt Education Room at Plains Memorial Hospital.   

Agenda

1. Call to Order- Reading of the Mission Statement
2. Public Comments
3. FY 2021 Durbin Audit Presentation
4. Approval to Call for Board Member Election
5. CT Purchase
6. Review of Financials and Statistics- December 2021
7. Consent Agenda
   • Approval of 11/18/2021 Board Meeting Minutes
   • Quarterly Review of Pledged Securities
   • Approval for Destruction of Records
   • Employee Handbook Approval
8. General Information
   • Department Monthly Reports
   • Thank You Notes
   • Other Reading
9. Medical Staff
   • Review Medical Staff Minutes for: 12/21/2021, 1/11/2022
   • Request Appointment to ER Staff Privileges: Mitchell Moriber, DO; Robert H. Cortner, DO
   • Request Appointment to Temporary ER Privileges: Gregory Hannabas, MD
10. Executive Session
    • Quality & Regulatory Compliance
    • Personnel. Consider and Discuss Personnel Matters Pursuant to Texas  Government Code Section 511.074
11. Action on Executive Items

11. Adjournment

______________________________                                    ____________________

Posted by Olivia Herrera                                                                Date   01/25/2022

Every year these same healthcare workers are recognized during national holiday weeks like hospital week, nurse’s week, and many more. These holidays are designed to celebrate each departments specialty and the work they do. This year healthcare workers should be very proud of their work, and what they do for the district and the communities they serve.

“The staff of the Castro County Hospital District concern for our patients and residents during this time of Covid-19 is nothing but outstanding,” said Nathan Flood, CEO. “They have taken the increased risk of possible exposure in stride and have put even greater energy and thought in how we take care of our patients and residents to decrease the risk of Covid-19.”

There have been many changes with procedures to help decrease the risk of exposure during COVID-19, but the staff at CCHD has not let that decrease their quality of work. They have stayed committed to the care of the community, especially those who can be at a higher risk like our elderly loved ones.

“We are extremely proud of our dedicated staff during this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Laura Kimball, Administrator at Country View Living, CCHD’s long-term care facility. “They are working hard to keep our elderly safe and continue to provide the upmost care for the residents of Castro County.”

Throughout all the changes the heart of these workers has not decreased, because at Castro County Healthcare you are not only a patient, you are a friend’s mother, a daughter’s child, you are family.

“What makes the nurses I work with so very special is they not only treat the sick’s illness or the injured wounds, they also treat the broken heart and the tired soul,” said Dana Cobb, CNO. “I truly feel our community is lucky to have such a wonderful and amazing group of nurses, aides, unit clerks, and all those that make up our staff.  They are the soldiers for your health.”

If you see a healthcare worker, thank them, and next year when the pandemic is hopefully over, remember them. For more information on how you can donate or help Castro County Healthcare contact us at 806-647-2191.

Below are the National Holidays in which we celebrate those in the healthcare industry. Some are happening soon, or just ended!

National Nurses Week – May 6 – 12, 2020

Hospital Week – May 10 – 16, 2020

National Skilled Nursing Care Week – May 10 – 16, 2020

National Rehabilitation Week – 3^rd full week in September each year

Physical Therapy Month – October

National Radiologic Technology Week – During the Week of Nov. 8^th each year

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week – April 19-25, 2020

Occupational Therapy Month – April

“We want to reassure all of our patients that we are following all proper cleaning techniques and taking every precaution after each patient,” said Linda Aguero, Clinic Director at CCHD. “We have spilt our Monday through Friday clinic hours to see the ‘well’ patients in the morning, 8:00am to 2:00pm, and then seeing our sick patients, or patients showing certain signs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.”

Linda and her team at the Medical Center of Dimmitt are available to answer questions or concerns during their business hours or Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

The Medical Center of Dimmitt is still asking patients to please call the clinic for an appointment. Once the patient arrives at the clinic, the patient is to call the clinic and the registration clerks will register the patient over the phone. Once they have a room ready, the patient will be notified to come into the clinic and the nurse will take them straight back to an exam room, instead of having them wait in the lobby. If a patient is suspected of having COVID-19 and meets all the criteria, the clinic staff can swab the patient and send to a lab in Lubbock for testing.

They also ask that patients do not bring anyone with them to their appointment, if possible. A minor can have one family member with them. To schedule an appointment contact them at 806-647-2194.

When you speak to anyone who has worked at CCHD, especially one of these seven who were awarded will mention the ‘family’ like environment that they all work in. Their most memorable moments and favorite parts of their jobs are the team, and people they have met and worked with over the years.

“My favorite part of my job is getting to be a part of a team that strives each day to help make a difference,” said Benny Navarro, Housekeeping Supervisor for CCHD.

Some of these awardee’s have held multiple positions at the hospital all the way from housekeeping, to billing and coding, nurse aid or ward clerk, material management and Lab Tech, even an LVN who worked in surgery back when CCHD had a surgery department.

“Looking back at my years here at CCHD through the different positions I have worked I have been blessed to work with so many great people, and what I have learned and experienced through my positions over the years has been incredible,” said Jolene Schulte, Material Management at CCHD.

Castro County realizes that healthcare rules and regulations are always changing and makes sure to keep all staff up to date on this information through providing continuing education.  Many of these employees have grown and advanced with CCHD throughout the years.

“I have gained so much knowledge working for CCHD and continue to do so, because there is always something new that I can learn,” said Gloria Hinojosa, Collections in the Billing Department.

CCHD is proud of each and every one of their employees and cannot thank them enough for their continued years of service to the hospital district and to its new groundbreaking opportunities, with new facilities and departments. Help CCHD congratulate and thank the following honorees for their service.

The 2020 Honoree’s include:

45 years: Jolene Schulte

20 years: Gloria Hinojosa and Hortensia Ramirez

10 years: Jamie Blasingame and Vicenta Martinez

5 years: Benny Navarro and Cathy Wilcox

A CNA is an important piece of the workflow at CVL. Nurses depend heavily on the CNA’s when it comes to the resident’s care. CNA’s are the nurses and doctors ‘eyes and ears’ during their shift. The CNA class is taught by two nurses in the Castro County Hospital District, Raneta Patton, RN and Charge Nurse, and Tonya Ethridge, RN.

If you have questions about a CNA’s role or if becoming a CNA sounds like something you or someone you know would like to do, you can go by the facility and fill out a CNA class application any time or watch our Facebook page (@countryviewtx) for updates on our next class. For more information call 806-647-2984.

An estimated 57 million people – nearly one in five Americans – live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States. An assessment by The Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH), states that in the 1960s there were 300 hundred rural hospitals, and as of September 2019 it is down to 158 rural hospitals. Since 2010 there has been 26 rural hospital closures that have occurred in 22 communities.

NOSORH speaks of the importance of rural communities need to address accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of the aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un – and underinsured citizens.

Castro County Healthcare District understands this importance and has found ways to help create many local health opportunities for our community. Through the Medical Center of Dimmitt, the community has access to four physicians, Dr. Hardee, Dr. Chamblee, Dr. Alvarez, and Dr. Matos; along with three Nurse Practitioners, Peggy Birkenfeld, Sheila Higgins, and Susan Hochstein. They also offer a Chronic Care Management program with Rita McDaniel, BSN, RN.

Plains Memorial Hospital is a Level IV Trauma Center staffed with highly skilled nurses and physicians, with a 24-hour emergency room where the staff is trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. They can also help you get better at home with their Swing Bed program. The Swing Bed program not only provides skilled nursing care but also rehabilitation services through their onsite Rehab Department.

The expert physical, occupational, and speech therapy team of Welch Rehab specializes in multiple services not only in their facility, but at Plains Memorial Hospital, and Country View Living, the new long-term living facility.

CCHD recognized the increasing need for a locally accountable senior living facility due to the rural areas increase in aging population. A community-wide study brought validation of the need for the new senior living facility in Dimmitt.

“The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America,” says Teryl Eisinger, NOSORH CEO.

CCHD is one of the larger employers in Castro County with around 200 employees throughout all of their departments. With a third of that being added on since March of 2019 at the opening of Country View Living. Based on TORCH’s assessment, out of the 158 rural hospitals there are 26,900 jobs a year and those employees provided care to 3.1 million Texans.

TORCH states that every Texan should be concerned about rural hospitals as rural areas provide the food, fuel, and fiber for the entire state; as well as being traveled through by everyone at one time or another.

When you get sick think of your local clinic. When you need urgent care, think of your local hospital. When you need therapy after a surgery or injury think of your local rehabilitation team. When you or a family member are reaching the time for 24-hour skilled nursing care think of your local long-term living facility. CCHD is here to provide you the care you need at home in every age of life, there is ‘power in rural’ and there is power in CCHD!

Raneta Patton, a RN and Charge Nurse, was an instructor for the CNA course. She has been working with CCHD as a nurse for six years, but also began working with CVL when they opened in March 2019. Patton states that she knows how important and difficult a CNA’s job can be, and she decided to teach these classes to make sure they were all well prepared for the job. She takes a lot of pride in being a part of something that is really making a difference at CCHD.

“As a nurse, you depend heavily on your CNA’s to assist in resident care,” said Patton. “They are with the residents more often than anyone else and are the nurses and doctors ‘eyes and ears’ during their shift.”

Patton did not teach alone, Tonya Ethridge, RN, also dedicated her time to teaching the CNA class. Ethridge saw this a great opportunity for her to be able to give something back after her six years in the nursing field. Ethridge worked for CCHD at Plains Memorial Hospital from 2013 to 2017, and returned to work at CVL when it opened, and states, “that it is an amazing place to work.” She has enjoyed teaching and getting to know the students and watching them grow each day in class.

“It is amazing at the begging of class to see them unsure of themselves, and then by the end of class see how they have grown and come to love the residents and what they are doing,” said Ethridge.

Both women speak of the heart, dedication, and importance of CNA’s. They are the front line of our resident’s care, and nurses cannot do their job without them. “Because a good CNA doesn’t just have a job, it’s their calling.”

If becoming a CNA sounds like something you or someone you know would like to do, you can come to the facility and fill out a CNA class application any time or watch our Facebook page (@countryviewtx) for updates on our next class. For more information call 806-647-2984.