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Show News SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS MONDAY MARCH 25. 1 1991 BIG DU EC Our entire selection of Spring shorts & short sets, & for Men, Women & Kids T-shi-rts Spring delayed was the scene on the first day of spring in Kanab. It was beautiful, but a little late for the wNte stuff. This Hospital Continued from Page 2 hour. The nine registered nurses got some of the biggest raises, because as a group the RNs were the most underpaid, Houston noted. Weve been promising the employees a raise as long as I remember," Houston com- mented. He has been a board member for 2 12 years. Theyve been very patient with us," he added. The employees have hung with us through thick and thin, and they havent been treated all that terrific." While this move helps to bring local salaries more in line, Houston said the total package for local hospital employees still is a long ways off from the industry standard. They have no benefits other than health insurance, he pointed out. For example, three of the hospitals RNshave over30years of service and have no retirement in place. The next step in the process of bringing local employees in line with the industry in general will be to give them a benefits package, Houston said. From a board standpoint, were cautiously ecstatic to be able to do what has needed to be done for some time," Houston remarked. He said the caution is because although the raises are in place and built into the budget, they depend on funding being available. The raises are just part of a new push of the hospital board and staff to do things more professionally, according to Houston. This is made possible because of the new administrator, Greg Metcalf, and new financial officer, Mike Miller, who both were hired last October. Weve got an administrator who knows how to manage, Houston asserted. Weve got a chief of finance who really understands the process,"he added. Were not getting victimized. Were acting rather than reacting." One of the big differences at the hospital is what Houston terms a tremendous turnaround" in employee morale, and he said its not all due to the coming salary increase. Metcalf has instituted the team concept of management in which employees are encouraged to express their ideas. An example of the results is that, based on an employee recommendation, the rt hospital was able to get a EKG machine for less than what it was paying to rent an old outdated one. An illustration of Metcalfs philosophy of management is that hes taken down the sign from his door that said administrator and replaced it with the word, facilitator. As part of the move to better state-of-the-a- reward and recognize em- ployees, the hospital will hold its first service and award ban- quet this June. Another optimistic sign at the hospital is that it is getting a better handle on its finances, in Houstons words. The accounts payable (debts) have been brought down from $180,000 to under $100,000, and, while accounts receivable is still a big problem, it also has significantly decreased recently, Houston noted. The hospital is getting tougher about keeping track of bills owed and going after those who arent paying. It has adopted a firm written policy of admissions and collections." Houston also said people are startingtousethehospital more. Even some people who have needed to go to St George or elsewhere in the state for certain procedures that couldnt be performed here have been returning to the local hospital for recovery. However, the hospital still feels the need to continue its plea to locals to use and support the local facility. Keepingusing us we can meet your needs, is Houstons appeal. He pointed out that the local medical staff is intelligent enough to know when it needs to send people elsewhere to get needed care. Were starting to walk through the door of becoming a professional organization, Houston concluded. Weve still got a mammoth task ahead, but if we make as much progress in the next year or so as we have in the last six months, we will be on our way. w Basic 0 Denim & Twill Shorts M Fashion Leggings wLace Trim, Capri Length $5.99 T-Sh- Beefy-T'- (lots of colors) p in ea $19.99 as low as Women's Solid & Stripe Colors, by Nuggets Socks (Keds Brand) 3 pair $6.00 Shorts, Jam Prints w M $5.60 as low as $9.60 irts p N s as low as $11.99 Select from Pacific Scene, OP & Gotcha T-Shi- rts (big selection) as low as $9.99 Select from Op, Gotcha, Bugle Boy & Fast All Dress Western Shirts 20 off Prices as low as $16.00 ea. Wrangler Brush Popper Shirts (Slightly Imperfect) $19.99 |