The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and a proper community response were the major topics of discussion at the Sept. 23 meeting of the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors.

“I think it’s been understated,” said Andrew Bair, chief executive officer. “I just feel drained by this. And I know I see that in other people too. There’s a real fatigue with getting ready for ‘what if ’. “

Bair said it’s difficult to make a connection when you can’t see a person’s face, as is often the case these days with virtual meetings.

“I see it taking its toll not only on me personally, but I see people throughout the organization that are going through all kinds of crisis,” he added. “And this pandemic seems to have made those types of things happen more frequently.”

Bair said the hospital is trying to address the concerns of both hospital employees and the community at large.

Board member Clint Rogers said he thinks mental health issues will impact Ellsworth County more than the actual virus.

“In one week, I knew of two suicides and one attempted suicide,” he said.

Rogers said he knows a student that graduated from high school last year whose school is 100 percent on-line.

“He never leaves his room doing on-line courses,” Rogers said. “That is not normal for a 17-, 18-, 19-year-old. And then you have the impact of those who have lost individuals through this, that haven’t been able to gather and grieve properly.”

Rogers said he hopes he is wrong, but he thinks there will be an increase in the number of divorces taking place because of lockdowns.

“It’s not because it was a bad relationship or anything like that, it’s just that pressure on individuals,” he said.

Tina Davis, Rural Health Clinic director, said there is a significant increase of patients with anxiety or children dealing with behavior issues.

“The bulk of it is stemming from COVID, from what we can see,” she said. “So we see a trend.”

Davis said surveys indicate some patients have canceled their well visits, or a follow up appointment or disease management appointment because they are afraid of being exposed to COVID-19. She said this results in more patients ending up in the emergency room and being admitted to the hospital because they let their health care issues go unmanaged.

Davis said the surveys also indicate some patients feel their anxiety has increased since the onset of the pandemic. Some feel they need counseling while others don’t know where to turn.

Davis said she and the hospital social worker, Lea Womelsdorf, met with Ellsworth County Health Department director Kerianne Ehrlich, and representatives from the Ellsworth County Ministerial Alliance and Central Kansas Mental Health about the matter.

“We all feel a sense of urgency in getting some communication out to our community,” Davis said.

She said in the coming week, the ECMC medical staff will do an introduction to a video series that Central Kansas Mental Health has already developed. That will be shared on social media. Davis also plans to get a “tool kit” out to the schools and local businesses and organizations that talk about who you can go to if you or your family members have issues.

Davis said Kate Schiermeyer, the hospital’s community outreach coordinator, is developing a mental health training program (including adult mental health first aid and suicide prevention workshops), and there also is the possibility of a grant that incorporates art in dealing with crisis.

“So we are applying for that (grant),” Davis said. “I’m very excited about this.”

In addition to the impact the COVID-19 on local mental health, Bair said his Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) committee is looking at what to do with children of hospital employees if those children are sent home from school to learn remotely because of COVID-19.

“We have a lot of employees here with school-age children,” he said. “And yet you still have a health care facility that the community depends on, and we can’t have all those health care workers going home.”

Krista Bohnen, human resources director, said she met with Ehrlich, USD 327 Superintendent Dale Brungardt and representatives from a couple of local churches to discuss options.

“We don’t have the answers,” Bair said. “But we feel we’ve got the right people at the table.”

In other business:

• The board members took a brief tour of the hospital’s new mobile medical unit.

Davis said the unit, which is basically a medium sized pull-type camper, will not only be used for doing COVID swaps, lab draws in the various communities around the county, physicals at Independent-Salt in Kanopolis and potentially at other businesses throughout the county. It will also be a presence for the hospital in local community events.

• Bair congratulated Beth Rippen, lab manager, and Danette Heinze, operations manager, and the entire laboratory staff for getting zero deficiencies in the recent Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program biannual survey.

This was the second year in a row that ECMC had zero deficiencies in the lab.

“It is rare to have a no deficiency survey,” Bair noted. “This demonstrates nearly unheard of quality from our lab leadership and staff.

He said the surveyors noted the regional reputation of the ECMC lab for high standards of quality, top-notch diagnostic equipment and exceptional staff.

• Mandy Thrasher, director of nursing, said she formed a committee in February to develop standards of behavior for the nursing department. The standards will be signed by each employee and displayed within the department.

“I think it’s a very positive reminder,” said board member Karen Pauley.

• Steve Burkhouse, chief financial officer, said gross revenue from operations totaled $2,066,768 from August, compared to the budgeted gross revenues of $2,004,768. Net revenue from operations totaled $1,551,241, compared to budgeted expenses of $1,576,824.

Burkhouse said because of COVID-19, ECMC will receive $4.8 million in additional funding from Medicare for six months to be used for Medicare payments.

• Approval was given to update the policy for the hospital’s bank signature cards to include only the hospital’s chief financial officer, the chief executive officer, the accounting manager, the board president and the board treasurer.

• The purchase of two 75 pound tumble dryers was approved at a total cost of $10,492.50.

• After returning from a series of three different executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel, approval was given to extend Bair’s contract and salary for another year. He was also given a 7.6 percent bonus.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors is at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the hospital conference room.

Positive cases increase

Ellsworth County Monday reported a total of 54 positive cases of COVID-19, an increase of 19 since Friday’s report. Officials with the local health department said all but two of the additional cases were associated with the Ellsworth Correctional Facility. Five community cases continued to be active. Health officials urged the continued use of masks in public, social distancing, proper hand hygiene and avoidance of large gatherings. Stay home if you feel ill.